The 18th edition of the prestigious APAIE conference and exhibition brought together representatives from over 1,100 universities across more than 70 countries with delegates from Nepal, Bhutan, Laos, and Cambodia also being in attendance as part of APAIE’s ‘Access Program’.
“This year we introduced the Access Program, through which APAIE funded delegates from underrepresented countries such as Nepal, Bhutan, Laos, and Cambodia. That’s a very unique thing about the conference this year,” Venky Shankararaman, APAIE president and vice provost (education), Singapore Management University, told The PIE News.
The emphasis on smaller, underrepresented countries holds particular significance as the conference continues to expand.
What began in 2006 with just 400 delegates has grown substantially, attracting over 2,500 participants in its 18th edition this year.
Held for the first time in India, the conference took place at Delhi’s Yashobhoomi Convention Centre.
Discussing the significance of this year’s theme, Shankararaman commented: “Global citizenship in education means stakeholders need to value diversity, foster cultural understanding, and take responsibility for global challenges.
“The question we tried to address (at the conference) is how can universities move from empathy to be more action oriented through compassion, and I am glad to know many universities are emphasising community service as a part of their curriculum.”
With a focus on representing marginalised regions in the Asia-Pacific, promoting diversity and inclusion in higher education, facilitating the exchange of ideas, and emphasising sustainability at APAIE 2025, C. Raj Kumar, founding vice-chancellor of O.P. Jindal Global University, the host institution for this year’s conference, addressed the importance of expanding opportunities on a global scale.
“To be a true global citizen, we must understand and appreciate others – their lives, their struggles, and their experiences. Everyone matters,” said Kumar, addressing the audience at the opening ceremony.
“A crucial aspect of global citizenship is the courage to speak truth to power, both within universities and to governments.”
Kailash Satyarthi, co-recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014, also talked about the need for universities across the world to use “compassion as a powerful force for social transformation”.
“Universities, as the nurturers of future generations, hold a moral responsibility to cultivate a Compassion Quotient,” stated Satyarthi, a renowned child rights activist in India.
The theme of ‘Global Citizen’ is particularly relevant for India, which is now considered “the belle of the ball” for international universities looking to expand with TNE opportunities, as reported by The PIE News.
Not just international institutions, public and private Indian institutions are also seeing opportunities in dual degree programs, faculty and student exchanges, research collaborations, and more, with their international counterparts, as evidenced by their participation at APAIE 2025.
According to Shankararaman, with 54 universities participating at APAIE 2025, India had the highest representation from a single country at an APAIE conference.
“We saw at the conference that there has been an increased interest in collaborating with Indian universities,” said Shankararaman.
“In a session with international students who studied in India, we discussed their experiences and challenges. The conclusion was that receiving universities in India must provide sufficient support to incoming students, while sending universities should highlight the advantages of studying in a country like India.”
At a session titled ‘Leveraging India’s Ecosystem In Fostering Global Citizens’ at APAIE 2025, panellists emphasised how India’s value systems, philosophies, and innovations present unique opportunities for collaboration with global institutions.
“Our panel focused on how partnerships between Indian and foreign institutions can create the next batch of global citizens, who are going to go out and impact the world,” stated Ashwin Fernandes, executive director, AMESA, QS, who moderated the panel.
“The panelists talked about how India can leverage its value systems, look at portraying Indian philosophy out to the world, and how frugal innovations can be an area where Indian and international universities can collaborate on.”
Moreover, prominent Indian institutions like IIT Madras are also partnering with German institutions, such as RWTH Aachen University, TU Dresden, and more to address some of the challenges around sustainability.
Though India has emerged as one of the fastest growing economies in the world, it is seen as an at-risk country for future environmental challenges and climate risks, which is why it is imperative for educational institutions to find solutions for the same.
“Since 1959, IIT Madras has built strong Indo-German ties, collaborating on sustainability, water security, climate change, transportation, data science, and AI. Now, the focus is on securing more funding to advance sustainability initiatives,” said Rupa Pandit, international faculty coordinator, global engagement team, IIT Madras at a session focused on ‘Indo-German initiatives for cultivating global citizens’.
In a session titled “Leveraging the Asian Decade in International Education”, panellists talked about how Asian countries are witnessing an exponential growth in the internationalisation of higher education, highlighting how countries like Malaysia are expected to surpass European countries in the number of English-taught programs by the end of the 2020s.
In recent years, Malaysia has become a key study destination for international students and according to Novie Tajuddin, CEO, Education Malaysia Global Services, Malaysia’s experience in the international education space can be beneficial for India.
“For India, this is an opportunity for Asian stakeholders to elevate the standards of education, facilitate exchange, and strengthen academic collaborations,” stated Tajuddin.
This is an opportunity for Asian stakeholders to elevate the standards of education, facilitate exchange, and strengthen academic collaboration
Novie Tajuddin, Education Malaysia Global Services
APAIE 2025 was also an opportunity for countries such as Spain, Romania, Brazil, Slovakia, Georgia, Hungary, and many other countries to showcase their educational credentials and attract international partnerships.
“At APAIE 2025, we have representation from nine public and private universities from Spain. We are excited about the opportunities this conference presents and are already seeing significant progress in fostering collaborations with universities from India and other participating countries,” said Alberto Salcines, head of internationalisation at the Spanish higher education unit, SEPIE.
Similarly, Romania saw representation from organisations such as Study in Romania and the National Council of Rectors of Romania for the first time at an APAIE conference.
“We are here with 18 universities from Romania, representing diverse fields of study, including engineering, medicine, business, agronomic sciences, and more. Our goal is to expand international partnerships, strengthen existing collaborations, and enhance student recruitment from Asia,” stated Cristina Stoenescu, international office coordinator, Romanian-American University.
Participants eagerly welcomed the announcement of Hong Kong as the host city for APAIE 2026.
Speaking at the APAIE 2025 closing ceremony, Christine Choi Yuk-lin, Secretary for Education, Hong Kong SAR, emphasised Hong Kong’s global connectivity, world-class culture, and its role in shaping future generations as she accepted the official handover.
