The Asian Universities Alliances Presidents Forum 2022 (AUAPF 2022) convened online on April 22. Chinese Minister of Education Huai Jinpeng delivered a video speech at the event.

Huai congratulated AUA on its fifth anniversary, and stated that AUA created through the joint effort of top universities around Asia represented the trend of mutual development and win-win cooperation in Asian higher education. Since its inception five years ago, AUA members have improved their collaborative mechanism and implemented flagship programs, with active contribution to the planning of higher education development in Asia and fruitful exploration in solving regional and global issues, added Huai.

He also said that, by increasing exchanges and cooperation among Asian HEIs, AUA could contribute more to promoting quality development of Asian higher education, global sustainable development and the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. Firstly, digitally-enabled innovative approaches need to be taken to promote sharing of high-quality educational resources and interconnection between HEIs within the region. Secondly, pragmatic collaboration between HEIs needs to be enhanced with a focus on talent training and scientific research, to better leverage the alliance between top-level HEIs. Lastly, AUA needs to further study the Asian civilizations and advance mutual learning and knowledge of different cultures, through for instance innovation in international student exchange, to raise students’ awareness of the Asian community with a shared future.

Themed Embracing Asian Diversity for a Shared Future: Mission of Universities in Fostering a Community of Life for People and Nature, AUAPF 2022 brought together HEI leaders and international affairs officials from across Asia, including presidents of 15 member universities such as Tsinghua University, Peking University, the University of Tokyo, Seoul National University and Chulalongkorn University.