Originally published in VCIL Community Group.
The Second Asian Regional Gathering of the Ecoversities Alliance took place at Triem Tay Garden in Hoi An, Vietnam, from October 31st to November 3rd, 2023, adopting an unConference format. The main objective was to assemble individuals deeply engaged in reimagining higher education. These visionaries work both within and outside the conventional education systems and universities. They also contribute to locally-rooted learning spaces that foster community regeneration, ecological sustainability, local economy development, and a sense of belonging. Many of these initiatives are connected to various grassroots, social, and ecological movements, as well as indigenous communities.
Following the success of the inaugural Asian gathering in Thailand last year, VCIL Community, as a dedicated participant in the movement for years, had the honor of hosting this year’s event in Vietnam. VCIL is a network and community of individuals advocating for a paradigm shift towards a well-being society and holistic, sustainable development in a disruptive world. We this through alternative, non-traditional education and social entrepreneurship to construct new models of development and civilization.
Approximately diversed 40 participants, primarily from Asian countries, attended this 4-day gathering. They are independent researchers, un-educators, climate activist, freelance educator, entrepreneur, community leader, organic farmer, etc. Together, they have come from various places and bring their own stories and experiences and their beautiful souls to this gathering.
At the heart of our gathering lay the notion of friendship—a deep, foundational bond. Before delving into work, collaboration, and other aspects, we emphasized the importance of building a foundation of friendship, trust, and care. This ethos permeated the four days, as people were encouraged to share personal stories, concerns, and experiences, emphasizing the human element.
One of the primary goals of this gathering was to rethink, recognize, and reimagine the concept of success, happiness, and development. Many of the definitions imposed on us have been colonized and fixed by external forces. Thus, at Ecoversities, we created a space during this gathering to question these definitions and bring our own worldviews, experiences, stories, and values into the conversation. The gathering aimed to facilitate experimentation and the sharing of diverse experiences. It provided a platform for individuals and small communities to work together and create new paths, emphasizing the idea that “we make the path by walking it.
Our aspiration is to shift from mainstreaming to “many streaming.” Like the tributaries that feed a river, we acknowledged the value of diverse perspectives and streams of thought. Instead of attempting to convert others to our viewpoints, we aimed to share and appreciate the richness of multiple perspectives, believing that a world with many streams is more beautiful.
We challenged the conventional mental model of universities as institutions with brick walls or corporate appearances. In Ecoversities, we explored a range of alternative educational settings, from river-versities to mountain-versities, soil versities, favela universities, grandmother’s universities, and even jail universities. This approach allowed us to break free from the narrow definitions of classrooms, learning spaces, teachers, and learners. Ecoversities invited us to engage our cultural imaginations and let them flow freely.
Lots of people have brought their projects and experiences and sharing with the group over the past few days. There are lots of projects working on alternative education such as สถาบันอาศรมศิลป์ – Arsom Silp Institute of the Arts, รร. ปูทะเลย์มหาวิชชาลัย – ศูนย์การเรียนกสิกรรมธรรมชาติมาบเอื้อง Pudalay Mahavijalaya School, Khoj India, Project DEFY , Center for Aesthetic Education, The Soil Project, VCIL Travel School… Projects are working on sustainable farmings, agriculture, and sustainability or social movements such as Homecoming, Farmversity, Gaia Ashram, Project Ripple, 好土氣 l 風土生活社群, Bà Đất Eco Homestay – Your truly home,… There are also projects to empower marginalized (“Diffrently-abled”) people such as Cormis, Hiraya Collective PH for the Blind, etc.
The impact of Ecoversities extended beyond the gathering, fostering a sense of belonging and support for individuals who often felt like outcasts. Many participants found a community of like-minded individuals who understood their unconventional paths and provided empathy and understanding. This sense of freedom, the ability to express oneself without fear of judgment, was deeply cherished. Ecoversities became a space where people could be vulnerable and connect with a big family that shared their values.
The gathering in Vietnam allowed participants to experience the local culture through various sessions. The opening ceremony followed Vietnamese traditions, seeking blessings and protection from ancestors for the event. Participants engaged in a Coffee Chit-Chat style to learn about Vietnam’s history over the past century, gaining insights into the country’s development, culture, politics, and economy.
Local cuisine was a highlight, with participants enjoying Vietnamese delicacies such as Banh Mi, Pho, Bun Bo Hue, and traditional cakes like Banh it and Banh xeo, along with Vietnamese coffee and tea. VCIL Community also invited Bao Cam band, which was founded in 2005 by young students of VietNam Music Academy they have brought to visitors from near and far the unique features of Vietnamese music, also maintaining the precious culture of our beloved country. The artist Xuan-Ha Nguyen-Vu has present a remarkable and delicous contemplative art workshop on “The making and comsumption of spring roll – through a lens of migration and cultural preservation”. Besides, we also embark on pilgrimages to Hoi An and Da Nang to explore social innovations and local ecoversities and for local immersion in this region.
Additionally, participants shared their talents, offering self-care techniques, research and storytelling experiences, mentoring and coaching sessions, discussions on livelihood careers, and various activities like Tension Trauma Release Exercises, deep relaxation, Mettler-Creative dance, and chanting. These experiences reflected the core values of Ecoversities, emphasizing the sharing of gifts, culture, love, and struggles among the community.
The success of this gathering was made possible through the support of Triem Tay Gardens/Triêm Tây Làng Quê, who provided logistical support, and a beautiful venue for our gathering. We extend our gratitude to the local people who carefully prepared fresh and healthy meals for all participants. Especially their welcoming and passion and openess to share with us their beautiful stories. Moreover, the gathering was made achievable thanks to the generous contributions of everyone who attended, reflecting the spirit of the gift culture.
The four-day gathering sparked beautiful connections, memories, learning experiences, fun, and collaboration among participants. Workshops and meetups were organized in partnership with Hiraya Collective and Cormis for marginalized communities in Da Nang. Discussions and collaborations are underway to create learning and experiential programs in Taiwan, as well as joint efforts between Thailand and Vietnam to establish a new school.
Numerous initiatives were proposed and prototyped during the gathering. For instance, a Seva team was formed to support the Asian Ecoversities Alliance after the event. The Ecoversities passport was introduced to enable individuals within the Ecoversities network to learn and connect across Asia.
As we move forward, we anticipate deeper cooperation and collaboration among learners and communities, embracing diverse knowledge, relationships, and imaginations to design innovative approaches to higher education that promote human and ecological flourishing in response to the pressing challenges of our times.
