On the afternoon of Thursday, November 20, 2025, the National Defense University, as the host and chair of the meeting, officially closed the 27th ASEAN Regional Forum Heads of Defence Universities, Colleges, and Institutions Meeting (ARF-HDUCIM). During the ceremony, it formally handed over the chairmanship of the 28th ARF-HDUCIM to the Canadian Defence Academy, which will host and co-chair the event with the Philippine defense institution in October 2026 in Canada.

On Wednesday morning, 19 November 2025, the National Defense University held the official opening ceremony of the 27th ASEAN Regional Forum Heads of Defence Universities, Colleges, and Institutions Meeting (ARF-HDUCIM) under the high chairmanship of His Excellency General Tea Seiha, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense, at the Sokha Hotel in Phnom Penh. It is also noted that, in accordance with the Terms of Reference (TOR) for the organization of the ARF-HDUCIM—approved and put into effect during the 10th ARF-HDUCIM in Kuala Lumpur on 7 September 2006—the National Defense University, as host and co-chair alongside the Canadian Military Academy, will convene the 27th ARF-HDUCIM with delegates from 17 countries and institutions from 18–22 November 2025 at the Sokha Hotel in Phnom Penh.

In addition to the plenary session of the 27th ASEAN Regional Forum Heads of Defence Universities, Colleges, and Institutions Meeting (27th ARF HDUCIM), the National Defence University as the host and co-chair alongside the Canadian Defence Academy, also coordinated 21 formal bilateral meetings requested by delegates from participating countries. The high number of bilateral engagements underscores the significance of the 27th ARF HDUCIM, which functions not only as a platform for international military education but also as an important avenue for military diplomacy that supports the promotion of security, peace, and stability across the region.

On the second day of the 27th ASEAN Regional Forum Heads of Defence Universities, Colleges, and Institutions Meeting, the National Defence University, as the host and co-chair with the Canadian Military Academy, organized presentations delivered by nine participating countries: Laos, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Republic of Korea, Brunei Darussalam, New Zealand, and Singapore. These presentations addressed three sub-themes: 1. Military Preparedness and Response to Environmental Disruptions; 2. Preparing Military Leaders to Understand the Role of Non-State Actors in Shaping Regional Security; and 3. Building Resilience – Preparing Military Leaders to Operate in a World Influenced by External Forces. In addition, the meeting was honored by the distinguished presence of Her Excellency Ambra Dickie, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Canada to ASEAN, who was invited to deliver a special address to the participants on the four sub-themes of the 27th ARF-HDUCIM Meeting.

For the first day of the 27th ASEAN Regional Forum Heads of Defence Universities, Colleges, and Institutions Meeting, the National Defence University of Cambodia, as the host and co-chair together with the Canadian Defence Academy, organized presentations from seven countries: Cambodia, Canada, China, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, and Vietnam. These presentations covered two important sub-themes: 1. Climate-Induced Migration and Its Security Implications, and 2. Military Preparedness and Response to Environmental Disruptions.