The European Union Mobility Programme for Myanmar (EMPM) Forum in Jakarta, Indonesia, took place on 21–22 October, marking the conclusion of the program’s first iteration. EMPM is an EU-funded pilot initiative launched in January 2023 to support Myanmar students and young professionals whose education and employment opportunities have been disrupted by the political crisis in Myanmar.
EMPM Venue
Through scholarships, virtual learning opportunities, micro-credentials, internships and academic mobility, the programme sought to help preserve and develop the country's human capital by providing access to educational and professional opportunities at European and ASEAN institutions. Implemented by DAAD, Campus France and Nuffic, the four-year programme represents an effort to sustain international academic cooperation and support a generation of Myanmar students facing significant barriers to higher education.
The programme brought together a network of European and Southeast Asian academic institutions and organisations. Its European university partners included the University of Padua (Italy), Palacký University Olomouc (Czech Republic) and Sciences Po (France) and Southeast Asian university partners included Universiti Sains Malaysia (Malaysia), President University and IPB University (Indonesia), Phnom Penh International University (Cambodia), and Mae Fah Luang University (Thailand), among others. The programme also involved European institutions and organisations providing on-site internship opportunities in the country, such as the Institut Français de Birmanie.
EMPM leaflet
My involvement in EMPM has been through Palacký University Olomouc's Myanmar Studies Center, where I worked as a lecturer and co-administrator of the programme alongside my second supervisor, Dr Kristina Kironska. Our responsibilities included selecting and supporting students, teaching online and in-person courses, developing and coordinating internship activities, and serving as contact persons for both participating students and interns. Through these activities, we contributed to the programme's academic component and helped students access educational opportunities and become involved in the university's academic environment.
MSC’s description on the EMPM leaflet distributed at the event
The EMPM Forum in Jakarta brought together programme partners and stakeholders to reflect on the achievements and challenges of this initial pilot phase and discuss its future development. While the first iteration is approaching its conclusion, discussions also addressed the possibility of continuing and further developing the initiative, building on the experience and partnerships established through EMPM.
As a representative of one of the European academic partners, I had the opportunity to contribute to a roundtable discussion reflecting on the programme’s achievements, challenges, and future development. I was also joined at the Forum by the new Indonesian PhD student at Palacký University Olomouc, Muhammad Anugrah Utama, whose participation provided another opportunity to strengthen the university's academic connections with Southeast Asia.
Federica and the new PhD student Muhammad Anugrah Utama
The forum provided a valuable opportunity for EMPM partners to share their experiences and reflect on the programme’s impact. Most importantly, it gave Myanmar students a platform to share their personal stories, discuss their experiences, and explain how participation in the programme had benefited them academically and personally. Some EMPM alumni attended the Forum in person and shared their experiences with the other participants, including several students who had previously attended courses at our university.
One of the most rewarding aspects of the forum was meeting some of my online students face-to-face for the first time, as well as reconnecting with students who had previously attended our university in person. It was a particularly meaningful experience to finally meet students I had taught and worked with, hear their stories directly, and learn more about how the programme had contributed to their educational journeys. Listening to their experiences offered a valuable reminder of the importance of international academic collaboration and the opportunities it can create.
During the roundtable discussion, I explored the role of European academic partners in supporting the programme’s development. I discussed what European partners can contribute, which aspects of the programme should be strengthened, and which elements should be retained in future iterations. These discussions were particularly important as the first iteration came to a close, providing an opportunity to reflect on lessons learned and consider how the programme could continue to evolve to better meet students’ needs.
Federica talking at the roundtable
Beyond the formal sessions, the forum also offered valuable opportunities for networking and informal exchanges during lunch, dinner, and breaks between sessions. These moments allowed participants to strengthen existing relationships, exchange ideas, and explore opportunities for future collaboration.
Overall, participating in the EMPM Forum was a very positive and rewarding experience. It allowed me to contribute to discussions about the programme’s future while gaining a deeper understanding of its impact through the experiences of the students themselves. Most importantly, meeting my students in person and hearing their stories made the experience particularly meaningful. The forum reinforced the value of international educational partnerships and the importance of continuing to develop programmes that create meaningful opportunities for students.
The entire event was exceptionally well organized. I would like to extend my sincere thanks to the organizers for their thoughtful planning and smooth coordination.