Bangkok, Thailand – 20 May 2026 – SEAMEO STEM-ED joined Junior Achievement Asia Pacific and regional partners in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), marking a shared commitment to advancing STEM education, entrepreneurship, innovation, and future-ready skills for young people across Southeast Asia and beyond.

Held in a hybrid format at the Carlton Hotel Bangkok Sukhumvit, Bangkok, the signing ceremony brought together representatives from educational institutions and youth development organisations to strengthen collaboration in preparing learners for a rapidly changing world shaped by artificial intelligence, digital transformation, and sustainability. The MOU was formally signed by representatives participating both onsite in Bangkok and online from across the region, reflecting the broad commitment of partner organizations to advancing future-ready education and youth development.

The partnership seeks to leverage the complementary strengths of participating organisations to bridge the gap between education and the future workforce. Through collaborative initiatives, the partners aim to create meaningful learning opportunities that equip young people with the knowledge, skills, and entrepreneurial mindset needed to thrive in the evolving economy.

In her opening remarks, Dr Kessara Amornvuthivorn, Centre Director of SEAMEO STEM-ED, highlighted the importance of equipping young people not only with academic knowledge but also with scientific thinking, creativity, adaptability, problem-solving skills, and an entrepreneurial mindset. She emphasised that collaboration between educational institutions and industry partners is essential to preparing youth to become innovators, responsible citizens, and future leaders in an increasingly technology-driven world.

Mr Vivek Kumar, President and CEO of Junior Achievement (JA) Asia Pacific highlighted the importance of building pathways from the classroom to the workplace, noting that through experiential learning in entrepreneurship, work readiness, and financial literacy, JA Asia Pacific empowered nearly five million students last year and remains committed to reaching millions more young people.

The Memorandum of Understanding was signed by:

Onsite Signatories

• Dr Kessara Amornvuthivorn, Centre Director, SEAMEO STEM-ED
• Mr Vivek Kumar, President & CEO, Junior Achievement Asia Pacific

Online Signatories

• Dr Majah-Leah V. Ravago, Centre Director, SEAMEO INNOTECH
• Dr Azman bin Jusoh, Centre Director, SEAMEO RECSAM
• Ms Cahya Ratih Kusuma, Centre Director, SEAMEO SEAMOLEC
• Mr Daryn Saiynov, General Director, Caravan of Knowledge

Hosted by Junior Achievement (JA) Thailand, the signing ceremony was attended by distinguished representatives from partner organizations both onsite and online, including Mr Thada Savetsila, Chairman of Junior Achievement Thailand, and M.L. Pariyada Disakul, Executive Director of Junior Achievement Thailand.

More than a formal agreement, the MOU represents a shared commitment to empowering the next generation of innovators, entrepreneurs, and leaders through education, innovation, and regional collaboration. By combining expertise, networks, and resources, the partner organizations aim to create greater opportunities for young people to develop the skills and mindset needed to navigate and contribute to an increasingly dynamic and interconnected world.