In-person workshops in Chiang Mai, February 2026
We have now completed the main part of our project - the in-person 3-day workshop series in Chiang Mai, Thailand held in February 2026. It was an in-depth course that aimed to deal with all the main aspects of writing for publication as scholar-activists. In the end, 22 participants attended from right across Southeast Asia, with some meeting for the very first time. Participants came from a range of disciplinary backgrounds and even job roles, with most from the higher education sector but also some from government departments and NGOs. We believe that this mix led to very vibrant and fruitful discussions, and has initiated in-country and cross-regional networks (and friendships).
"One of the most meaningful aspects of the workshop was the opportunity to reflect on what it means to be a scholar-activist. In a time when academics in many parts of the world face increasing pressures for speaking out against injustice, our discussions highlighted how scholarship and social responsibility can and often must go hand in hand.
We also had very constructive conversations about the realities of academic publishing: navigating reviewer feedback, strengthening research for journal submissions, and identifying strategies for successful grant applications. A particularly valuable component of the workshop was the peer-to-peer feedback on draft articles we had prepared beforehand.
Beyond the academic discussions, it was equally enriching to learn about the different political and social contexts shaping research across Southeast Asia. Hearing the experiences of colleagues working on human rights and social movements across the region was both eye opening and inspiring.I am grateful to the workshop conveners Dr Helen Hanna, Dr Chris Millora and Dr. Pisith Nasee for all your guidance throughout the workshop. I am very much thankful for the opportunity to connect with likeminded scholars from around the region. Experiences like this remind me of the importance of building supportive scholarly communities, especially as we continue to navigate the challenges facing academia today."
Here's a link to some photos of the event (some faces have been obscured to protect anonymity).
On behalf of the Milk Tea Education, we want to express our huge thanks to everyone who has partnered with us to try and advance human rights education across Southeast Asia and beyond. The work continues!
Our next step is to continue the peer review process as well as to hold online drop-in sessions for participants to discuss their ongoing article drafts and to plan for future collaborations.
