The 18th version of the distinguished APAIE convention and exhibition introduced collectively representatives from over 1,100 universities throughout greater than 70 nations with delegates from Nepal, Bhutan, Laos, and Cambodia additionally being in attendance as a part of APAIE’s ‘Entry Program’.
“This yr we launched the Entry Program, by which APAIE funded delegates from underrepresented nations reminiscent of Nepal, Bhutan, Laos, and Cambodia. That’s a really distinctive factor concerning the convention this yr,” Venky Shankararaman, APAIE president and vice provost (training), Singapore Administration College, instructed The PIE Information.
The emphasis on smaller, underrepresented nations holds explicit significance because the convention continues to broaden.
What started in 2006 with simply 400 delegates has grown considerably, attracting over 2,500 contributors in its 18th version this yr.
Held for the primary time in India, the convention befell at Delhi’s Yashobhoomi Conference Centre.
Discussing the importance of this yr’s theme, Shankararaman commented: “World citizenship in training means stakeholders must worth variety, foster cultural understanding, and take accountability for international challenges.
“The query we tried to handle (on the convention) is how can universities transfer from empathy to be extra motion oriented by compassion, and I’m glad to know many universities are emphasising group service as part of their curriculum.”
With a give attention to representing marginalised areas within the Asia-Pacific, selling variety and inclusion in larger training, facilitating the alternate of concepts, and emphasising sustainability at APAIE 2025, C. Raj Kumar, founding vice-chancellor of O.P. Jindal World College, the host establishment for this yr’s convention, addressed the significance of increasing alternatives on a world scale.
“To be a real international citizen, we should perceive and recognize others – their lives, their struggles, and their experiences. Everybody issues,” mentioned Kumar, addressing the viewers on the opening ceremony.
“A vital facet of world citizenship is the braveness to talk fact to energy, each inside universities and to governments.”
Kailash Satyarthi, co-recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014, additionally talked concerning the want for universities the world over to make use of “compassion as a strong pressure for social transformation”.
“Universities, because the nurturers of future generations, maintain an ethical accountability to domesticate a Compassion Quotient,” said Satyarthi, a famend baby rights activist in India.
The theme of ‘World Citizen’ is especially related for India, which is now thought of “the belle of the ball” for worldwide universities trying to broaden with TNE alternatives, as reported by The PIE Information.
Not simply worldwide establishments, private and non-private Indian establishments are additionally seeing alternatives in twin diploma packages, college and scholar exchanges, analysis collaborations, and extra, with their worldwide counterparts, as evidenced by their participation at APAIE 2025.
In response to Shankararaman, with 54 universities taking part at APAIE 2025, India had the very best illustration from a single nation at an APAIE convention.
“We noticed on the convention that there was an elevated curiosity in collaborating with Indian universities,” mentioned Shankararaman.
“In a session with worldwide college students who studied in India, we mentioned their experiences and challenges. The conclusion was that receiving universities in India should present adequate assist to incoming college students, whereas sending universities ought to spotlight the benefits of learning in a rustic like India.”
At a session titled ‘Leveraging India’s Ecosystem In Fostering World Residents’ at APAIE 2025, panellists emphasised how India’s worth methods, philosophies, and improvements current distinctive alternatives for collaboration with international establishments.
“Our panel centered on how partnerships between Indian and international establishments can create the subsequent batch of world residents, who’re going to exit and impression the world,” said Ashwin Fernandes, government director, AMESA, QS, who moderated the panel.
“The panelists talked about how India can leverage its worth methods, have a look at portraying Indian philosophy out to the world, and the way frugal improvements may be an space the place Indian and worldwide universities can collaborate on.”
Furthermore, distinguished Indian establishments like IIT Madras are additionally partnering with German establishments, reminiscent of RWTH Aachen College, TU Dresden, and extra to handle a few of the challenges round sustainability.
Although India has emerged as one of many quickest rising economies on the planet, it’s seen as an at-risk nation for future environmental challenges and local weather dangers, which is why it’s crucial for academic establishments to search out options for a similar.
“Since 1959, IIT Madras has constructed sturdy Indo-German ties, collaborating on sustainability, water safety, local weather change, transportation, knowledge science, and AI. Now, the main focus is on securing extra funding to advance sustainability initiatives,” mentioned Rupa Pandit, worldwide college coordinator, international engagement workforce, IIT Madras at a session centered on ‘Indo-German initiatives for cultivating international residents’.
In a session titled “Leveraging the Asian Decade in Worldwide Schooling”, panellists talked about how Asian nations are witnessing an exponential progress within the internationalisation of upper training, highlighting how nations like Malaysia are anticipated to surpass European nations within the variety of English-taught packages by the tip of the 2020s.
Lately, Malaysia has change into a key examine vacation spot for worldwide college students and in response to Novie Tajuddin, CEO, Schooling Malaysia World Providers, Malaysia’s expertise within the worldwide training area may be helpful for India.
“For India, this is a chance for Asian stakeholders to raise the requirements of training, facilitate alternate, and strengthen tutorial collaborations,” said Tajuddin.
This is a chance for Asian stakeholders to raise the requirements of training, facilitate alternate, and strengthen tutorial collaboration
Novie Tajuddin, Schooling Malaysia World Providers
APAIE 2025 was additionally a chance for nations reminiscent of Spain, Romania, Brazil, Slovakia, Georgia, Hungary, and plenty of different nations to showcase their academic credentials and appeal to worldwide partnerships.
“At APAIE 2025, now we have illustration from 9 private and non-private universities from Spain. We’re excited concerning the alternatives this convention presents and are already seeing vital progress in fostering collaborations with universities from India and different taking part nations,” mentioned Alberto Salcines, head of internationalisation on the Spanish larger training unit, SEPIE.
Equally, Romania noticed illustration from organisations reminiscent of Examine in Romania and the Nationwide Council of Rectors of Romania for the primary time at an APAIE convention.
“We’re right here with 18 universities from Romania, representing numerous fields of examine, together with engineering, medication, enterprise, agronomic sciences, and extra. Our objective is to broaden worldwide partnerships, strengthen present collaborations, and improve scholar recruitment from Asia,” said Cristina Stoenescu, worldwide workplace coordinator, Romanian-American College.
Individuals eagerly welcomed the announcement of Hong Kong because the host metropolis for APAIE 2026.
Talking on the APAIE 2025 closing ceremony, Christine Choi Yuk-lin, Secretary for Schooling, Hong Kong SAR, emphasised Hong Kong’s international connectivity, world-class tradition, and its position in shaping future generations as she accepted the official handover.
