At a recent board meeting of ASEAN Fisheries Education Network (ASEAN-FEN) in Hat Yai, Thailand, Nov. 19, 2018, Tianjin University of Science and Technology (TUST) was officially admitted as the "ASEAN Fisheries Education Network ASEAN-FEN+ member ", becoming the fifth "+ member" of the association.
On behalf of TUST, Professor Sui Liying (Director of AR-ARC, College of Marine and Environmental Sciences) submitted the application letter signed by the TUST Rector Prof. Han Jinyu to the alliance council, and made a presentation to introduce TUST, AR-ARC and College of Marine and Environmental Sciences. After discussion and voting, the board agreed to admit TUST as an ASEAN-FEN+ member. As a member of ASEAN-FEN+member, TUST has established a new channel of cooperation with ASEAN countries, which is of positive significance for our university to expand communication and cooperation with ASEAN countries in the field of education of fishery, promote "One Belt One Road" international scientific and technological cooperation, and enhance our visibility and influence in the field of fishery education.
Professor Sui also attended the International Fisheries Symposium 2018 (IFS 2018) held at the same time. IFS has been held for eight times, and has a wide influence in the field of fisheries education and industry in ASEAN region. IFS 2018 is organized by Prince of Songkhla University in Thailand, with the theme "Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture for the Mankind", and attended by more than 500 scholars and industrial representatives from ASEAN countries, China, Japan, South Korea and other countries.
Background
The ASEAN Fisheries Education Network (ASEAN-FEN) consists a team of university-based consortia representing the fisheries and aquaculture oriented institutions within the Southeast Asia region. ASEAN-FEN was established by agreement of its nine principal core members, namely Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (Malaysia), Universiti Sains Malaysia (Malaysia), Can Tho University (Vietnam), Nong Lam University (Vietnam), Kasetsart University (Thailand), Prince of Songkla University (Thailand), Rajamangala University of Technology Srivijaya (Thailand) and Universitas Air Langga (Indonesia). Currently ASEAN-FEN comprised of thirteen associate members, as well as four ASEAN-FEN+ members from non-ASEAN countries, namely Hokkaido University (Japan), Chittagong Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (Bangladesh), Asian Institute of Technology (Thailand) and Ocean University of China (China).
One of the objectives of the ASEAN-FEN is to support and enhance the fisheries and aquaculture sector through education, research, and public outreach in the region. The ASEAN-FEN supports and facilitates activities of educators, scientists, and agencies responding to local, national, regional, and international issues on fisheries and aquaculture.