The Closing Ceremony: APSSA Conference, July 9, 2004

Assumption University students performing a dance number at the Gala Dinner held at JohnXXni Conference Centre on July 7.

Student artistes fromAssumption University, Silpakorn University, Sripalhum University and Chulalongkom University pose foragroup photo at the Gala Dinner.

Mr. President of APSSA, Executive Committees, Conference Participants, Distinguished Guests, ladies and gentlemen:

Since the Asia Pacific Student Services Association was established in 1988, it has been the arena for networking and exchanging ideas among student service practitioners in the region. New developments and good practices have been shared and adopted. The international conference was convened every two years. "This year it is an honor that the APSSA has decided to host the 9th APS SA Conference in Thailand under the theme "Power ofYouth: Developing Professionalism, Cooperative Learning and Social Responsibility." There are 131 participants from. 17 countries, including Australia, Brunei Darussalam , Bangladesh the Chairperson, Organising Committee.
President, Christian University

Closing Remarks
Rector Emeritus, Rector, colleagues, ladies and gentlemen I would like to thank all the speakers, delegates and guests of the Asia Pacific Student Services Association to Bangkok for the 9th Asia Pacific Student Services Association conference entitled 'Tower ofYouth: Developing Professionalism, Cooperative Learning and Social Responsibility" for your contribution and participation.

Upon the completion of this conference, we have missions to fulfill and actions to pursue. Due to the constant challenge in educational development around the world, we need to balance the technical demands of student life with their appropriate emotional and mental enhancement.

As these students are the leaders of our future, governments that are interested in continued economic and national development must maximize the potential of a vast number of students through adequate educational infrastructure. Only by providing effective tools and appropriate programs can teachers, practitioners, and staff attain the goals of preparing students for their future careers and empowering them so that they can greatly contribute to the blossoming of their society, as well as their own personal progress.

The Declaration on Student Development is our commitment to them. It will serve as a guideline for our concrete plans to strengthen students' potential in all respects. The experiences and ideas shared during the Student Forum, introduced here for the first time in this conference, will be of value to our future decisions and the direction we will take towards accomplishing the goals of our student service programs.

My sincere appreciation also goes to all those who made this APSSA 2004 possible, especially Assumption University for your hospitality and generosity.

I am grateful for the opportunity to participate in this conference and meet educators from around the world. I am confident that this conference was an important step towards improving education for students and faculty alike.

May I now declare the APSSA 2004 Conference closed and wish you all a pleasant journey home. See you in 2006 in Singapore. Thank you.

Mr. K. Puniamurthy
President, Asia Pacific Student Services Association 2002-2004. Principal Assistant Registrar, University of Malaya, Malaysia.