The Association of Southeast Asian Nation’s 2015 creation of an Economic Community is the next stage in the region’s integration, a process sharing many of the EU’s aims but using different means, based on consensus rather than rules. Their integration models differ, yet both have much to learn from the other. Europe’s knowledge of Southeast Asia (SEA), however, does not reflect SEA’s geopolitical importance and is dispersed through the EU. This is the context of the European call for research on Regional integration in South-East Asia and its consequences for Europe. SEA is developing institutions but also a regional identity for its people. Regionality here is not only a political framework but a set of grassroots processes, aspirations shaped by tangible/intangible heritage inherited from history, valorised/devalorised in present-day politics, possessing economic value. This may be studied by multi-disciplinary research in the social sciences and humanities. As part of its aim of placing French research at the heart of Europe-Asia scientific networking, the Ecole française d’Extrême-Orient (EFEO) wishes to respond to the call. Its proposal for H2020 is provisionally entitled Regional Integration in SEA (RISEA); the project for which it seeks ANR funding (30,000 euros) is named Preparing ‘Regional Integration in SEA’ (P-RISEA). The funding will help the EFEO continue building a research network linking the EU and SEA. This network already exists, in the EFEO’s Asian expertise, partnerships and infrastructure (10 centres in SEA), and its coordination of EC-FP7 project SEATIDE (Integration in Southeast Asia: Trajectories of Inclusion, Dynamics of Exclusion), with a consortium of 5 EU and 4 SEA universities (2012-2016). ANR funding will improve the network’s reach and durability, increasing its chance of success in the call. P-RISEA plans to achieve two aims by the call’s deadline (Feb 2017): 1. Consortium enhancement (Phase 1 May-Oct 2016). The EFEO will convene plenary and consultative meetings to build on the existing network, inviting 8 SEATIDE partners to form the RISEA consortium and create mechanisms for its enhancement with associated or advisory partnerships: -Emerging central/southern European partners, to bring isolated experts into the academic mainstream. -SEA partners, including in Timor-Leste, of interest to EU policy as SEA’s only non-ASEAN nation. -Partners in China, India and Japan, for SEA integration’s “external dimension”. -Public (finance, development) and private sector (media, NGO) non-academic experts, to form a Public Impact Advisory Board. -A European Academic Response Network, to provide targeted policy expertise. 2. Project design (Phase 2 Nov 2016 - Feb 2017) The funding will enable the final consortium to discuss RISEA’s project architecture and research content in areas of scholarly innovation and political concern (anthropology, economics, environment, geography, history, international relations, politics). Proposed research clusters include: Framework Institutions, Emerging Identities, Transnational Mobilities, Water and Human Security. Proposed multidisciplinary topics include: refugees (Myanmar/Thailand); sea (South China Sea, Indian Ocean); impact of demographic and soc/pol change on economic growth; anthropology of ASEAN elites; Lower Mekong water, energy and food security. The project will be designed through discussion with the full consortium, including non-academic advisors. This bottom-up methodology was used for SEATIDE and allowed all partners to identify with project aims during implementation. These meetings and travel of experts to Paris to help write the proposal will be impossible without funding under P-RISEA. In conjunction with help we are seeking from National Contact Points, Paris Sciences et Lettres and other sources, ANR funding will position France at the heart of international research on Asia, Europe-Asia networking and academic counselling for EU policy makers.

"Project aims to strengthen forestry higher education in Laos and Thailand based on the priority themes of ‘Sustainable forest management’ and ‘Forest restoration & rural livelihoods’; with the crosscutting themes of climate change mitigation & adaptation. Both countries have high levels of forest loss and degradation, and are highly vulnerable to climate change. Within this context, a key challenge for both countries are to make forest management more sustainable, socially inclusive, and to conserve and restore forests while providing development opportunities. Yet, their HEIs are inadequately equipped to provide the education services needed to address these challenges. Forestry students need to be trained not only in production forestry, but also in social, environmental, economic, and policy aspects. The project includes 2 Programme HEIs (UH & CZU), and 2 Partner HEIs each in Laos (SKU & SU) and Thailand (KUFF & CMU). Following the regional priorities, project aims to support modernization and internationalisation of Partner HEIs curriculum, and support the development of new teaching and learning tools (including MOOCs & open source ICT tools), innovative methodologies and pedagogical approaches. Expected Outputs:- 2 new MSc programs developed in Lao HEIs: ""Forest resource management"" and ""Rural livelihoods & forest environment""- 22 New courses developed, and 21 existing courses upgraded - Upgraded teaching material and equipment- 1 journal article published on forestry HE development in Laos & Thailand- Dissemination videos, posters, newsletters and leaflets produced.Expected Impacts: - Increased number of graduates with the knowledge and skills needed for sustainable forest management, forest restoration and rural livelihoods, climate change mitigation and adaptation- Improved management and conservation of forest resources for sustainability and livelihoods - Improved research capacity and engagement in international processes"

Industry 4.0 has grasped attentions of industry, academic and research institutes as well as governments all over the world, including in EU countries and Thailand. In line with European 2020, the Thailand government has foreseen also the need for change from production-based economy (Thailand 3.0) to value-based economy (Thailand 4.0) in order for Thai industries to be competitive. There will be a need for human resource development for a new type of qualified MSc graduates to support Thailand 4.0 as well as Industry 4.0. Therefore, this capacity building project is proposed to enhance the capacity and ability of universities in Thailand for the delivery of a high quality competence-based curriculum for Master’s degree in industrial engineering that supports sustainable smart industry (Industry 4.0), conforms to European Qualifications Framework (EQF) and is applicable to EU partner universities. The project will be specifically focused on • Modernization of a curriculum for Master’s degree in industrial engineering that also meet the EU quality standard requirements,• Development and implement of modern ICT teaching tools and methods for effective student-centered learning of the curriculum,By achieving the objectives, this project will deliver a modernized MSIE curriculum containing 15 new courses that will be equipped with teaching and learning materials. The course will also be prepared for Online learning. 9 courses will be pilot tested. Laboratory with remote access will be built to support student learning. More importantly, teaching and technical staffs will be trained by experts in the areas from EU partners. It is expected that the curriculum will be able to address the needs of the industry as well as the nation in term of capacity building for Thailand 4.0. Although the curriculum will be developed to support Thai industries, it, meeting EU standards, can potentially be disseminated to other universities in the region.