Announcement of Winner

The Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) Secretariat and
the Australian Government Department of Education, Skills and Employment
express our appreciation to 82 educators who participated in the 2022 SEAMEO-Australia Education Links Award
under the theme “Building Back Better through Partnership” and announce the winning entry as follows:

“Our (photo)Voice: Children and Young People’s Joint Action Research on Student Well-being for All”

By Elga Andriana, Ph.D.
Head of International Undergraduate Program
Researcher at the Center for Life Span Development (CLSD)
Faculty of Psychology
Universitas Gadjah Mada, Indonesia

 

8 Finalists:

 

List of All Entries

Thank you for the participation of 82 entries from 7 Southeast Asian countries in the Award.

 

Evaluation Committee

Chair:  Dr Ethel Agnes Pascua Valenzuela, Director, SEAMEO Secretariat
External Evaluation Committee:

• Mr Jake Black
  Policy Officer
  Multilateral Policy
  International Partnerships Branch, International Division
  Australian Government Department of Education, Australia 

• Dr Magarita Consolacion C Ballesteros
  Director IV
  International Cooperation Office (ICO)
  Department of Education
  Manila, Philippines

• Dr Shah Jahan bin Assanarkutty
  Centre Director
  SEAMEO Regional Centre for Education in Science and
  Mathematics (SEAMEO RECSAM)
  Malaysia 

Internal Evaluation Committee:

• Mr Emiljohn Sentillas
  Policy and Planning Specialist
  SEAMEO Secretariat

• Dr Nithiananthini Kumarawel
  Learning Innovation and Information Specialist
  SEAMEO Secretariat 

• Ms Piyapa Su-angavatin
  Knowledge Management Manager
  SEAMEO Secretariat

 

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Documents to Download

• 2022 SAELA Concept Note
  
• 2022 SAELA Proposal Template  
• 2022 SAELA Social Media Banner

Link to submit the entry/proposal
Submit the Entry/Proposal

Inquiries: SAELA@seameo.org

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1. Background

The Government of Australia, one of the SEAMEO Associate Member Countries has been actively contributed to the development of education, science and culture of the Southeast Asian countries thru the partnership with the Ministries of Education of Southeast Asian countries and the SEAMEO Regional Centres since 1973.

The SEAMEO-Australia Education Links Award (SAELA) is one of the SEAMEO Regional Awards which has yearly organised since 2013 through the support and contribution of the Australian Government Department of Education, Skills and Employment, located in Canberra, Australia.

The Award aims to provide opportunities to the individuals or educational institutions to submit a proposal idea on education-related activities or education policy, according to the annual theme that will strengthen collaboration and partnership between Southeast Asian countries and Australia.

To view the winning proposals and entries of the previous SAELA: 

• 2020/2021 SAELA. Theme “Education Innovations that Work: Enhancing Links between Southeast Asia and Australia”.

  

2. SEAMEO-Australia Education Links Award (SAELA)

The SAELA gives recognition and provides financial assistance to project proposals or existing projects which bring benefits to a Southeast Asian community, organisation, or educational institution; and in the long-term help provide a better quality of life in society. 

The Award aims to highlight that education cooperation between countries can transfer new ideas, broaden educational opportunities, improve education quality, form long-term people-to-people links, and improve mutual understanding for the benefit of all parties.

Specifically, SAELA aims to:

• Showcase education, training and research cooperation activities and the value these have in fostering stronger people-to-people and institutional links;
• Provide the opportunity for sharing and learning of new ideas on education cooperation; and
• Promote the development of effective educational partnerships between countries, organisations, and communities.

 

3. Theme for 2022: Building Back Better through Partnership

For almost two years, the COVID-19 pandemic has created unprecedented conditions in all areas of social life and changed the educational landscape globally. For many students, the pandemic resulted in the loss of knowledge, skills, and previously mastered subject matter. Additionally, many students became disengaged with school, and in some countries the dropout levels rose. 

These education losses were the result of the health, economic, and social effects of the pandemic, as well as the result of direct effects of the pandemic on educational institutions¹.In line with Australia’s priority to enhance greater education cooperation within the region, SAELA promotes increased collaboration between Australia and Southeast Asia. In the aftermath of the pandemic, our countries can work together to share insights on how education systems can better serve the people in our region. Australia’s priorities for this year’s SAELA are:

• Forging stronger people-to-people and institutional links through international education mobility
• Enhancing innovation and growth to meet education, training skills and labour market needs for economies within the region
• Fostering research and collaboration partnerships between Australia and Southeast Asian countries.

In response to the 5th Strategic Dialogue for Education Ministers (SDEM 5) in June 2021, all the Education Ministers of the 11 Southeast Asian countries recognized the need to strengthen the partnership and collaboration in the region on educational innovation, education for resiliency and community recovery, fostering educational environment, and supporting capacity building for teachers and learners in developing future-ready learners². Thus, the theme for the 8th cycle of SAELA is “Building Back Better through Partnership”.

“Building Back Better” can be defined as a holistic concept using post-disaster reconstruction and recovery as an opportunity to improve a community's physical, social, environmental and economic conditions to create a more resilient community in an effective and efficient way³.

2022 SAELA are looking for an innovative and practical proposal according to the theme that will be implemented in Southeast Asian countries, and at the same time, strengthening the bond between Southeast Asia and Australia.

 

4. Details and Prizes of the Award

• The applicants are required to submit a written proposal, detailing the concept, implementation process, including information on how the grant money will be used. (Refer to item no.7).
• For this Award cycle, one winner will be chosen and receive a grant worth AUD$ 10,000 to implement/mainstream activities in relation to the winning project or idea.
• The prize will be given in three batches: 70 percent shall be given after the Awarding Ceremony while the remaining 20 percent shall be given upon the submission of the progress report (after the project implements 6 months) and the rest 10 percent shall be provided upon the completion of the project and the submission of the final report.
• The winner will also receive a Plaque of Recognition during a major SEAMEO event such as the SEAMEO High Officials Meeting or SEAMEO Council Conference.
• The shortlists will receive a Certificate of Recognition
•  “Certificates of Participation” will be provided to the applicants whose proposal meets the minimum requirements such as the proposal is relevant to the theme, and follow the instructions of proposal submission.

 

5. Applicant Eligibility

• The Award welcomes individuals who are education leaders, educators, teachers, researchers, and students, represented by any educational institutions (all levels of education) to submit a proposal related to the theme.
• The Award is open to all nationals of 11 Southeast Asian countries, namely, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and Timor-Leste.
• The applicants should not be a staff member of any private company.
• The applicants should have never received any SEAMEO Awards within the past 3 years.
• Staff members of the SEAMEO Secretariat and the SEAMEO Regional Centres/Network and their immediate family members are not qualified to apply for this Award.

 

6. Selection Process and Assessment Criteria

The selection and assessment of entries will be done by a committee.  The Evaluation Committee consists of experts from Southeast Asia and representatives from relevant partner international organizations, SEAMEO Secretariat, SEAMEO Regional Centres, and the Australian government.
 
The evaluation will be based on the merit of the proposal as indicated by:

• Innovation, practicability and originality of the proposal;
• Scope for replication, expansion, or duplication of the proposal;
• Value for money and sustainability; and
• Benefit and relevance to Southeast Asia and linkages to Australia.

 

7. Guidelines for Participation

• Individuals can submit the proposal concept/idea related to the theme “Building Back Better through Partnership” from 1 April to 31 July 2022.
• The sharp deadline of entry submissions is midnight of 31 July 2022.
• Each individual can submit only one proposal.
• How to Submit the Proposal: 
  
  
• ALL applicants should submit a proposal by using the SAELA Proposal Template which can be downloaded from here or request through email: SAELA@seameo.org
• The proposal can be submitted to the SEAMEO Secretariat by using the following Google Link, and attach with the proposal and other supporting documents before 31 July 2022.
   
  Link to submit the entry/proposal
  https://link.seameo.org/2022SAELA/Submission
  
  
• Submission the proposal to the email address: SAELA@seameo.org will NOT be accepted. 
• To align with the environmental sustainability and energy saving, the Committee will NOT accept the proposal in hard/printed copies.


• How to Prepare the Proposal:
• The applicants should use the provided proposal template “2022 SAELA Proposal Template”.
• The proposal should be written in English language.
• The proposal should not be over five (5) pages of A4 in total. The information should be written in Times New Roman/Calibri font, font size 12.
• The required information in the proposal includes as follows:
1. Part I - Information about the candidate
   • Title
   • Name
   • Nationality
   • Organisation
   • Position
   • Current Mailing Address
   • Current Country
   • Email
   • Mobile/Whatsapp Number (Including country code):
   • Facebook Account Name
   • Attach with biodata/short CV (Optional)  
     
     
2. Part II – Brief information about the proposal
   • Project Title
   • Status of the Proposal (New idea or existing project)
   • Executive Summary (Not over than 400 words)
   • Purposes and Significance
   • Project Duration
   • Expected Starting Date and End Date  
   • Targeted Learners/Institutions  
   • Proposed Activities
   • Expected Outputs
   • Details of Cooperation between Southeast Asia and Australia 
   • Resource and Fund Required
   • Proposed Utilisation of AUD 10,000 Grant in the Project
   • Monitor and Evaluation Plan
   • Project Website
   • Project Social Media
   • Project Video (YouTube Link)
   • Other Information to Highlight to the Committee   
   • Supporting Photos (Optional)     
     
     
3. Part III: Attach the proposal and other supporting documents.
   • Project Proposal (Mandatory)  
   • Supporting Documents (Optional)  
     
     
• All entries submitted to the SEAMEO Secretariat will be acknowledged within 1 week after submission. If the individual has not received any acknowledgement of the receipt from the SEAMEO Secretariat within one week after the submission, please contact email: SAELA@seameo.org.

 

8. Important Dates

 

 

9. Focal Person

• For further information, please contact:
  Ms Piyapa Su-angavatin
  Manager, Knowledge Management Office
  SEAMEO Secretariat
  Bangkok, Thailand
  Email: SAELA@seameo.org