With the year 2015 fast approaching, the significance of a dynamic and solid partnership among countries in the ASEAN region is steadily being realized. In order to capitalize on this integration, it is important to put in place preparations toward an effective and efficient workforce that will fully maximize the benefits that this closer cooperation will bring to the economy and society of the member nations of the ASEAN community.

This is one of the major rationale of the Customized Program on Organizational Excellence Towards the ASEAN Community being organized by the Colombo Plan Staff College (CPSC) and the Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi (RMUTT), Thailand with the Education Society of Thailand (EST).  The program is the fourth collaborative customized program of CPSC and RMUTT among other partnership programs held since 2008. 
The program is set to attain the following objectives:
• Awareness on the global, regional and country-based management trends and their Implications for sustainable human resources development with reference to the ASEAN countries context. 
• Ability to identify issues and goals of managing and improving organizational adaptability by leading change through organizational development strategies; 
• Appreciation and understanding of the importance of quality management in organizations with reference to the ASEAN region.

The CPSC Director General Dr. Mohammad Naim Yaakub warmly welcomed the delegation during the Opening Ceremonies of the program. In his welcome remarks, he acknowledged the importance of this cooperation in further strengthening the effective transfer of knowledge between the stakeholders in the region. He also recognized the strong ties between CPSC in RMUTT and affirmed to continuously cooperate with future plans of the university as far as human resources development is concerned.

Dr. Paiboon Saiyawongs, Vice-Dean, Faculty of Business Administration and Member of University Counsel, RMUTT, heads the 17-strong RMUTT/EST delegation. In his response, Dr. Saiyawongs affirmed the mutual partnership between CPSC and RMUTT in fulfilling a shared goal in further developing capacity of its teaching and administrative staff. He also recognized the strong relationship of CPSC with member country Thailand that had been very fruitful for both CPSC and various Thai organizations and personnel particularly RMUTS, RMUTT and a lot more for so many years.

The customized program, being held from October 21 to 25, 2013 is coordinated by Dr. Godelyn Hisole, CPSC Faculty Specialist.  Among the resource persons who shared insights regarding matters of the ASEAN were: Dr. Hazrat Hussain, CPSC Faculty Consultant and Mr. Julius Caesar M. Flores, Director of the Division IV- ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community, Office of ASEAN Affairs of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Philippines.

For the remaining days, the program will feature theme papers that will discuss future trends on education and organizational excellence. Topics such as teamwork, quality management, building knowledge management systems and institutional accreditation are some of the theme papers that will be presented in the program.

The participants will visit some of the institutions that may provide additional inputs on the ASEAN cooperation which include the University of Santo Tomas and the Asian Development Bank.

Dr. Paiboon Saiyawongs (2nd fr. L), Vice-Dean, Faculty of Business Administration and Member of University Counsel, RMUTT, receives
Certificate of Appreciation from CPSC Director General Dr. Mohammad Naim Yaakub (2nd fr. R), assisted by
 CPSC Faculty Dr. Hazrat Hussain and Dr. Godelyn Hisole (far right and far left, respectively)
(L-R) Dr. Paiboon Saiyawongs, Vice-Dean, Faculty of Business Administration and Member of University Counsel, RMUTT and
CPSC Director General Dr. Naim Yaakub hands over Certificate of Appreciation to Mr. Julius Caesar M. Flores,
Director Division IV- ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community, Office of ASEAN Affairs of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Philippines, with CPSC Faculty Program Coordinator Dr. Godelyn Hisole..
Customized program participants performing a task in one of the sessions with Dr. Hazrat Hussain 
who is one of the resource persons (standing 1st fr R).