Over the past decade, SHAPE-SEA has been at the forefront of enhancing South-South cooperation in higher education and research across Southeast Asia. Funded by Sweden through its long-term research cooperation strategy, the program supports universities to take an active leadership role in advancing a culture grounded in human rights, peace, and democracy in the region.
Hosted by Mahidol University in Thailand, SHAPE-SEA serves as a regional hub for both the ASEAN University Network–Human Rights Education (AUN-HRE) and the Southeast Asian Human Rights Studies Network (SEAHRN). As a collaborative platform, it brings together academic institutions, scholars, and advocates to strengthen knowledge production, capacity development, and institutional transformation in support of human rights and peace.
Since its inception, SHAPE-SEA has awarded grants to 58 innovative research projects—including master’s and doctoral studies as well as cross-country research initiatives. More than 200 scholars from 10 Southeast Asian countries have benefitted from capacity-building programs on human rights and peace research methodologies. Additionally, the initiative has empowered 109 lecturers from 70 universities and two government institutions to integrate human rights education into their teaching and academic environments.
Through these sustained efforts, SHAPE-SEA continues to nurture a regional community of scholars and educators committed to advancing inclusive, just, and peaceful societies across Southeast Asia.
📎 Read more: www.shapesea.com
📷 Photo: Mahidol University