Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vo Trung Hung, the Director of the Department of Science, Technology and the Environment of the University of Da Nang (UDN), has attended the 62^nd Governing Board Meeting of the SEAMEO INNOTECH as the Chairman of the Board of Directors for the 2017 – 2019 term.

The event was held in Dili, the capital, and trade centre of East Timor (Timor-Leste), from 1 - 4 October.

In his remarks at the event, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hung emphasised that SEAMEO INNOTECH, in a prompt fashion, would propose solutions and promote the application of the latest innovations and technologies in improving the quality of education, hereby building ‘smart’ citizens in the ASEAN region.

At meetings within the framework of this event, the Board members were introduced to the 2017-2018 operation of SEAMEO INNOTECH, along with its soon-to-be-implemented programmes, projects, educational infrastructure development plans, seminars, short-term training courses, annual financial reports and other related thematic contents.

Also, the SEAMEO Director presented a draft 5-year strategic plan for the 2020 – 2025 period, plus action programmes and infrastructure enhancement activities.

In addition to his attendance at the SEAMEO INNOTECH meetings, Assoc. Prof. Dr.  Hung paid visits to universities in East Timor in a bid to seek future cooperation opportunities with them.

Mr Hung also attended an international seminar organised by the East Timor's Ministry of Education, Youth & Sport, and deliver a speech on leveraging the information technology applications in the context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, or Industry 4.0.

During his stay in East Timor, the Da Nang guest, authorised by the UDN Director, signed cooperation agreements with the National University of East Timor and the University of Dili in the witness of the Timor Leste Prime Minister and the Minister of Education, Youth & Sport.

The Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organisation’s Regional Center for Educational Innovation and Technology (SEAMEO INNOTECH) is one of the three SEAMEO regional centres hosted by the Government of the Philippines (GOP).

SEAMEO INNOTECH was established in January 1970 following the SEAMEO Council’s approval of its five-year plan and interim plan of operations. It was initially based at the SEAMEO Secretariat headquarters in Thailand. It was then moved to Singapore, and later on to Viet Nam until it was moved back to Thailand in 1975. On 1 July, 1976 a memorandum of agreement was signed between the GOP and SEAMEO for the temporary hosting of SEAMEO INNOTECH in the Philippines.

On 1 July, 1981, the GOP accepted the formal request of the SEAMEO Council for the Philippines to permanently host SEAMEO INNOTECH. The Center is now located at the campus of the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City.