A number of ASEM Education and Research Hub for Lifelong Learning (the ASEM LLL Hub) partners from the ASEM Research Network 5 "Core Competences"  met in Kuala Lumpur on 26^th and 27^th June 2013 to discuss future directions of the network in relation to two main objectives: publication and dissemination activities; and, funding opportunities. The meeting was hosted by our colleagues Dr Saemah Rahman and Dr Ruhizan Mohammad Yasin of the Faculty of Education of the National University of Malaysia - Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.

The session began with short presentations from all partners who were able to attend. The purpose of this was to reacquaint ourselves with relevant research and projects currently undertaken by partners relevant to the network theme of 'Core Competences'. After each presentation a period of time was set aside for discussion and comments.

The meeting then moved on to the core items on the agenda – publications and funding opportunities.

In relation to publication, a working group headed by Dr Karine Oganisjana (University of Latvia) and Professor Soonghee Han (Seoul National University) was convened and met to discuss possible strategies and the merits of book publications and special issues of journals. The team will disseminate the results of their discussions amongst the network and set out action points and deadlines for agreed outcomes.

In relation to funding opportunities, after some discussion led by Dr Muir Houston (University of Glasgow), as with publications, a small working group was formed headed by Dr Houston and Professor Tatjana Koke (University of Latvia) to investigate the possibilities of EU funding, bilateral funding arrangements between partner states and matched funding schemes. The team will disseminate the results of their discussions amongst the network and set out action points and deadlines for agreed outcomes.

Finally, before leaving our hosts provided some cultural activities and let us see a little more of Kuala Lumpur and its surroundings.