The Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF), a key intergovernmental organization promoting collaboration between Asia and Europe, is known for fostering intercultural dialogue and addressing global challenges. One of its flagship initiatives is the ASEF Young Leaders Summit (ASEFYLS), where young leaders from both regions come together to explore solutions to pressing issues.
Building on the success of ASEFYLS5, held in Salamanca, Spain, in 2023, the latest convention titled "ASEFYLS Capacity Buildings 2024 : Leadership in Society 5.0" took place in Budapest, Hungary, from October 6-12, 2024.
With a focus on “Youth, Digitalisation and Intercultural Dialogue,” this initiative is aimed to equip young leaders with the skills to navigate the complex and rapidly evolving digital world. Participants explored how technology shapes society, enhances intercultural understanding, and opens doors to innovation.
Interpretation of Digital Tools in Intercultural Settings
The sessions were delivered by the JIGE team through the ClassDo platform, which facilitated seamless interaction, allowing participants to easily collaborate and personalize their learning experience.
ClassDo’s platform helped ensure that the global nature of the session—with facilitators and participants from different countries joining remotely and in-person, spanning multiple time zones and cultural backgrounds—was fully supported with for an interactive participatory and personalized learning experience, that prepares learners to be future-ready.
From Asia, representatives hailed from Armenia, Australia, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. From Europe, participants came from Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, and the United Kingdom.
The multicultural JIGE facilitators from Japan, Singapore, Australia and Indonesia
Exploring Future-Oriented Pedagogy: Preparing for Uncertainty
One of the guiding pedagogical frameworks for the leadership development sessions was Future-Oriented Pedagogy, developed by Singapore’s Institute for Adult Learning, which focuses on preparing learners to thrive in dynamic and complex environments. Future leaders must be equipped with the skills to navigate new and uncertain challenges.
In this context, the workshop embraced several core principles of Future-Oriented Pedagogy:
- Curiosity and Critical Inquiry: The workshop promoted critical inquiry by encouraging participants to reflect on their own digital communication practices and examine how cultural differences shape online interactions. Through group discussions, participants were pushed to question their assumptions and consider how varying communication styles, language barriers, and digital etiquette influence intercultural exchanges.
- Learning from Complexity: Rather than simply transmitting static information, participants were encouraged to explore the cultural nuances of digital tools, such as Japan’s LINE stamps, which convey emotions and meaning through specific imagery that pertains to its own cultural context. These real-world examples allowed participants to engage with the complexities of cross-cultural digital communication, fostering an understanding of the challenges they may face in a globalized environment.
- Dynamic Generative Knowledge: The concept of Dynamic Generative Knowledge (DGK) was central to the workshop, as participants were not passive recipients of information but active contributors to the learning process. By engaging in collaborative group activities, they co-created feasible approaches to effective intercultural digital communication, building new knowledge collectively and preparing to apply these insights in real-world situations.
The Role of Dialogical Inquiry: Co-Creating Knowledge through Dialogue
The learning sessions employed Dialogical Inquiry, an approach that prioritizes collaborative learning through dialogue and reflection. This method empowered participants to take ownership of their learning and engage deeply with the material.
- Collaborative Meaning-Making: Participants were exposed to multiple perspectives on digital communication across different cultures, allowing them to build a shared understanding of how cultural norms influence behavior online. The Dialogical Inquiry approach, which emphasizes co-construction of knowledge, created an interactive environment where learners contributed their unique insights, enriching the learning process.
- Shared Control of Learning: The facilitators of the workshop embraced a learner-centered approach, acting as guides while giving participants the freedom to drive discussions and explore topics of interest. This shared control allowed participants to take ownership of their learning, making the session more relevant and engaging, even in hybrid in-person and remote learning and co-creation environments.
Hybrid : participants in-person and remote
- Real-World Application: The analysis various case studies provided a practical, real-world problem for participants to engage with. By exploring the cultural nuances embedded in this digital tool, participants gained valuable insights into how digital communication can be interpreted differently across cultural contexts. This focus on authentic issues ensured that the learning was immediately applicable and practical.
Preparing for Society 5.0: The Future of Leadership
By combining Future-Oriented Pedagogy and Dialogical Inquiry concepts, the sessions are designed to equip participants with the skills and mindset needed to lead in the era of Society 5.0—a human-centered society where technology is integrated into every aspect of life. The emphasis on collaboration, critical thinking, and intercultural understanding ensured that participants were not only prepared to navigate the digital landscape but also to use technology as a tool for positive social impact.
As these leaders continue their journeys, the insights and experiences gained from ASEFYLS 2024 will enable them to navigate the complexities of intercultural communication and leverage technology to create a more inclusive, human-centered future.