The First Regular Meeting between the SEAMEO Secretariat and the UNESCO Asia and Pacific Regional Bureau for Education was convened on 17 December 2008 at the 5th Floor Conference Room of the Mon Luang Pin Malakul Centenary Building, Sukhumvit Road, Bangkok where the offices of the two organizations are housed.  It was attended by 20 members of the directorate and professional staff of both organizations.

The SEAMEO Secretariat took part in the conduct of the Seminar and Exhibition of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn under the Princess Sirindhorn Information Technology Project on 20 - 22 November 2008 in collaboration with the National Electronics and Computer Technology Center at the Miracle Grand Convention Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand.

On its twelfth year anniversary, the Information Technology Project under the patronage of HRH Princess Sirindhorn, put on an exhibition to promote the use of Information and Communications Technology in the development of the disadvantaged.

Fifty-seven students and three faculty members from the International Relations Department, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Universitas Padjadjaran in Bandung, Indonesia visited the SEAMEO Secretariat on 13 November 2008 to learn about the regional cooperation initiatives that the SEAMEO pursues in Southeast Asia.

Right at the school grounds of the Ban Subsanoon School in Saraburi Province in Thailand, the directorate and staff of the SEAMEO Secretariat led and introduced fun-filled games to about 500 school children from Grades 1 to 9 on 7 November 2008 as part of its outreach activity under the SEAMEO Secretariat’s Community Involvement Programme.

The SEAMEO Regional Centre for Higher Education and Development (RIHED) organised the International Conference on Raising Awareness: Exploring the Ideas of Creating Higher Education Common Space in Southeast Asia on 6-7 November 2008 at the Pathumwan Princess Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand. The conference was attended by officials and representatives of higher education institutions in Southeast Asia, Australia, Japan and the United Kingdom; and some SEAMEO regional centres.

The 46th Governing Board Meeting of SEAMEO BIOTROP was held on 22-24 October 2008 in Manila, the Philippines. H E Dr Datu Jesli A Lapus, Secretary of Education, Philippines welcomed the GB Members.

At the opening of the meeting, SEAMEO BIOTROP Center Director, Dr Ir Handoko and SEAMEO Secretariat Deputy Director for Administration and Communication Dr Tinsiri Siribodhi delivered their respective remarks.

The SEAMEO Regional Center for History and Tradition (CHAT) convened its 7th Governing Board Meeting in the new capital of Nay Pyi Taw in Myanmar on 21-22 October 2008. The Meeting was attended by the GB Members from Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and the SEAMEO Secretariat.

In an opening ceremony, H E Dr Chan Nyein, Minister for Education, Myanmar welcomed the GB Members.

Meanwhile, Dato’ Dr Ahamad bin Sipon, Director, SEAMEO Secretariat delivered his remarks

In an effort to expand access of teachers and educators to more regional training centres in Southeast Asia, the Ministry of Education (MOE), Malaysia and the Ministry of National Education (MoNE), Indonesia conducted a joint workshop on the Establishment of New SEAMEO Centres of Excellence at the Institut Aminuddin Baki in Genting Highlands, Malaysia on 19-22 October 2008. Participants to the workshop included 12 officials from the MoNE Indonesia, 16 officials from the MOE Malaysia and 2 representatives from the SEAMEO Secretariat.

The SEAMEO VOCTECH Regional Centre convened the 11 Governing Board Members/ Representatives from the Southeast Asian countries for the Centre’s 19th Governing Board Meeting and Roundtable Discussion on vocational and technical education and training (VTET) issues on 13-15, 2008 in Brunei, Darussalam.

Officials from the Embassies of Germany and The Netherlands in Brunei Darussalam, being SEAMEO Associate Member Countries, attended the meeting and congratulated the SEAMEO VOCTECH for its accomplishments.