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Walailak University’s School of Political Science and Public Administration together with Program Management Unit for Human Resources & Institutional Development, Research and Innovation (PMU-B); Center of Geosocial and Cultural Research for Sustainable Development (GSCR); Chulalongkorn University Social Research Institute (CUSRI); Ton Duc Thang University, Vietnam, and Knowledge Production Studies Initiative (KPSI) organizes the international seminar “the Making of Common in/beyond Southeast Asia”. 

   The seminar presents different ways of perceiving Southeast Asia. Even though Southeast Asia is a sub-region of Asia, and has a lot of differences regarding of nationalities, boundaries and so on, the seminar aims at how to look at Southeast Asia as a whole. This is to contribute to the exploration of methods, best practices and discussion of peaceful operation in Asia as well as promote intellectual effort and a new political desire to understand Southeast Asia in a dialogue of regional and global (south) frameworks.

   The seminar was conducted at Khao Luang Chamber, Cooperative Education Building, Walailak University, on 25 October 2022. Professor Dr. Surasit Vajirakachorn, Dean of School of Political Science and Public Administration, Walailak Univeristy, presided at event and gave a welcoming speech. The seminar received a lot of attention from lecturers and students; participants could also join online via Zoom. 

   The seminar consisted of two sessions: Morning session - Thai Studies: Beyond and Conjuncture – and Afternoon Session – Urban Common in Southeast Asia. Four interesting topics were included in the morning panel discussion namely Theorizing ‘Asia as Method’ in/ as/ for Critical Education of the ASEAN Community by Asst. Prof. Dr. Omsin Jatuporn, Faculty of Education, Chiang Mai University; Geopolitics and Education Flow between Thailand and Turkey by Asst. Prof. Dr. Yasmin Sattar, Faculty of Political Science, Prince of Songkla University, Pattani Campus; In-betweenness: Thai Cinema at the Global Frame/ Periphery by Ms. Anchalee Chaiworaporn, University of Southampton, and Kulap Saipradit: Diplomat in Exile and Cultural Cold War by Mr. Viriya Sawangchot, KPSI and GSCR, Walailak University.

   The afternoon session was on the topic of Urban Common in Southeast Asia: Dee Jung Program and Its Regional Network/ Movement by Mr. Vorapoj Osathapiratana, Din So See Group; Art, Citizen and Community Engagement (in contact) by Miss Chen Yoke Pin, Arts-Ed Penang; Urban Common in Thailand: Crisis, Care and Collective Community by Asst. Prof. Kisnaphol Wattanawanyoo, School of Architecture and Design, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi. 

   Apart from being a great platform for sharing diverse methods of perceiving Southeast Asia, the seminar also responds to Walailak University’s indicators of research, national and international network building, and research and academic related article project development of lecturers and students.