ABSTRACT
This chapter introduces the concepts of ASEAN Community, ASEAN identity, ASEAN awareness, and ASEANness which are developed by reviewing the policies, declarations, and other related documents. Education for ASEANness was developed and gradually became more concrete through the ASEAN Charter, ASEAN Social and Cultural Community (ASCC) Blueprint, Work Plan on Education (WPE), Cha Am Hua Hin Declaration, and the ASEAN Curriculum Sourcebook, among other factors. Education clearly plays an important role and provides an immense contribution in building a sense of ASEANness toward the realization of the ASEAN Community by 2015. Surin Pitsuwan, former Secretary-General of the ASEAN, explains that the ASEAN needs people with qualities of excellence, professionalism, and versatility. Although the perception of the concept of ASEANness in educational policies of each member state varies and receives different degrees of emphasis, the anticipation for the ASEAN integration was based on the target of 2015. The Charter provides a legal status and institutional framework for ASEAN countries.
