The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), German Rectors’ Conference (HRK), Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences, and Centre for Higher Education (CHE) jointly organize the International Deans’ Course in Southeast Asia, Africa and Latin America. This intensive training course for middle managers of higher education is part of the DIES programme (Dialogue on Innovative Higher Education Strategies) coordinated by DAAD and HRK.

The key objective of IDC Southeast Asia is to bring together a group of 30 newly elected deans, vice-deans and heads of departments from universities in the Southeast Asian region and to prepare them for the challenges of holding a dean’s position in a changing higher education landscape. Issues such as strategic faculty management, financial management, quality assurance and leadership are key parts of this course. A soft skills training and exchange with German university leaders about higher education reforms is included as well.

Central to the practice-oriented methodology of IDC is the Project Action Plan (PAP) implementation. In Part I the participants develop a PAP that address individual reform projects which they implement during various stages of the course. The milestones of the PAPs are further discussed during the intermediate workshop (Part II). Finally, Part III offers the opportunity to assess the progress of the projects and to discuss lessons learnt among the group.

In addition to the PAP presentations, Part III in Yogyakarta included sessions on Sustainability, Human Resource Management, and Entrepreneurial University. To heighten the participants’ understanding of higher education management, the course also provided visits to Universitas Gadjah Mada, Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta, and Universitas Kristen Duta Wacana.

IDC Southeast Asia 2022/2023 was implemented in cooperation with six regional experts, namely: Prof. Dr. Intan Ahmad of Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB), Indonesia; Prof. Dr. Maria Flordeliza Anastacio, Centro Escolar University-Malolos, Philippines; Asst. Prof. Dr. Romyen Kosaikanont, Mae Fah Luang University, Thailand; Prof. Dr. Duu Sheng Ong, Multimedia University, Malaysia; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Supra Wimbarti, Gadjah Mada University; and Prof. Dr. Gladys Nivera, Philippine Normal University, Philippines. The regional experts act as mentors for the participants in between the contact phases of the course to support the implementation of the individual reform projects.

IDC Southeast Asia 2022/2023 was held in three parts: Part I: June 27 – July 8, 2022 in Manila, Philippines; Part II: November 7 – 11, 2022 (online); and Part III: February 6 – 10, 2023 in Yogyakarta, Indonesia.

Written and Prepared by Dr. Gladys C. Nivera