The 1st and 2nd International Teachers’ Conference held in Singapore and Finland respectively in September 2001 and September 2002 succeeded in promoting ICT as an effective tool to deliver education and promote academic and cultural exchanges among high school teachers and students between Asia and Europe. To build on the momentum on the previous two conferences, the Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF) co-organised the 3rd International Teachers’ Conference in Bogor, Indonesia from 28 September – 2 October 2003, with the Madania School of Indonesia and the Department of National Education.

The four-day Conference in Bogor gathered together a total of 68 high school teachers and educators from 14 ASEM countries in Asia and Europe to initiate and/or participate in collaborative ICT projects.

In recognition of their outstanding contributions to the objectives of the AEC, AEC Awards, comprising a cash grant of USD2,500 were awarded to three AEC Project Groups, namely, "Cultural Fusion – The Global Teenager", "Handshakes All Around the World – A Virtual Homestay" and "Living in a Multicultural World". They were among the nine AEC Project Groups that were established at the conclusion of the Bogor Conference in 2003. The AEC Award would be used either to further develop the AEC Project or to develop a new project.

After robust exchange of views and discussions among the participants of the Bogor Conference, seven AEC Project Groups were established. They were:

1. A Local Sacred Building
2. A long Journey – A Global Story
3. Cultural Cybercards
4. Culture Ambassador
5. Peace Project
6. Science Beyond the Classroom
7. The Students’ Online Magazine

The co-ordinators of the four existing AEC project Groups, “Face-2-Face 2004”, “Handshakes Around the World – A Virtual Homestay”, “Living in a Multicultural World” and “Ndolalak and Hambo” would be further developed to incorporate more interesting themes and topics to involve more students.

To inject momentum to the AEC initiative, ASEF will be organizing the 4th International Teachers’ Conference in Europe in September or October 2004. All AEC Project Groups will be expected to report on the developments of their projects prior to the 4th International Teachers’ Conference.