On January 14, 2023, it has been implemented “Southeast Asian Neighborhoods Network 2.0: Communities of Learning, Research and Teaching Collaborative.” This integration meeting is hosted by the World University Association for Community Development (WUACD), Faculty of Humanities, and Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Universitas Airlangga.

The Southeast Asia Neighborhoods Network (SEANNET) is a platform that aids in the construction of contextualized knowledge about urban life in Southeast Asia. SEANNET aims to engage the humanistic social sciences in conversation with urban stakeholders as co-contributors of alternative knowledge on cities through case study locations in a few chosen cities in South East Asia. Through this event, SEANNET and WUACD discussed the possibility of collaborating due to the commonality in vision and mission that they share, where both carry out community-based development on the research and their programs.

This integration meeting was held by an open discussion led by the WUACD representatives, Prof. Dr. Mansor Bin Abu Talib from UCSI University, Malaysia, as the WUACD Project Coordinator for Social Development & Multiculturalism. Prof. Dr. Mansor Bin Abu Talib conveyed that WUACD and SEANNET might work together and are looking for a project to work on in society. SEANNET representative Rita Padawangi, Ph.D from Singapore University and other SEANNET members also shared their opinion regarding this collaboration by finding out which aspects they could work together in this meeting.

In doing so, it is hoped that both parties can engage in humanistic social sciences in dialogue with urban stakeholders and contributors after this event. Through this event, it is also expected that both WUACD and SEANNET can help shape and empower the community for a more prosperous future for our society.