The Road
From the summit floor
Reflections from QS Higher Ed Summit: Asia Pacific 2025
Throughout the 2025 QS Higher Ed Summit: Asia Pacific, QS Insights spoke to readers and delegates to find out what they had to say during the event.
Coverage by Eugenia Lim
"I am concerned about how to get faculty to retool. That's the biggest bottleneck I see."
"Under the same roof, you're getting so many higher education institutions across the world."
"I think it'll be very interesting to figure out what everyone is talking about."
Day 1
Across conversations at the summit, one theme stood out: connection. Delegates spoke about sharing challenges, fostering transparency and learning from one another. From exploring continental perspectives on teaching and employability to uplifting regional education through collaboration, participants agreed that higher education’s strength lies in openness and partnership.
Here are some of the highlights from the first day:
In the summit, we want to see how the world is going. How different universities face challenges. It's very important for us to work together and connect so we can work to make higher education much better. - Khadijah Turkistani, Vice Dean of Quality, Deanship of Quality and Academic Accreditation, King AbdulAziz University
I think it'll be very interesting to figure out what everyone is talking about. What are their interests? I am looking out for whether people are genuinely open about their problems as well… I hope to have a space where things are open and transparent. - Joshua Phua, CTO and Managing Director, Kinobi
I'm looking for the global perspectives across the different universities in the region and what is happening and what the whole sector looks like. This is information that an individual university cannot get on their own: Continental perspectives on many aspects of how the universities are run, the different emphases on teaching students, how we are engaging students. - Pauline Chiu, Associate Vice-President (Teaching and Learning), The University of Hong Kong
Collaboration is essential, particularly for NUS. I think we see ourselves as playing an important role in the region, particularly in ASEAN and beyond. We are interested to see how we can play a role in uplifting the education of our neighbours. - Tan Ching Ching, Assistant Dean, Academic Programmes Office, National University of Singapore
Day 2
Throughout the second day of the summit, we wanted to learn more about the concerns in the region. Here is what delegates had to say:
I am concerned about how to get faculty to retool. That's the biggest bottleneck I see.
Employers want applicants who know how to use AI, not applicants who got good grades and not using AI. And so there's demand out there on all sides. Faculty have to completely retool, both in terms of the type of pedagogy, as well as integrating AI related skills into class. - Steven White, Associate Professor of Strategy and Entrepreneurship, School of Management, Asian Institute of Technology
My key concern is ensuring that UTM’s visibility and reputation are strategically amplified through authentic storytelling and impactful partnerships during the QS Summit. I’m also focused on leveraging this platform to align UTM’s branding with global excellence narratives that resonate beyond the event. - Farhana Diana Deris, Associate Professor and Director, Corporate Communications Centre, Office of Strategy and Global Eminence, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia
We come to the QS summit to get more collaboration, and we're networking with other universities looking at the best practices for our future. - Jumadi, Associate Professor and Dean of Geography Faculty, Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta
What resonates with me is the confidence and ambition of universities across the region. The shift toward deeper, mutually reinforcing partnerships built around shared expertise and real-world impact is not only energising, but essential for preparing students for global careers. - Martin Matos, Global Partner Manager, King's Business School
Day 3
On the final day of the summit, we asked delegates what their key takeaways were. This is what they thought:
I got to know a lot of universities that I've never explored before, and we get to meet the best people to collaborate with here. I also learned so many different strategies that I want to apply to my university. Yoseva Maria Pujirahayu Sumaji, Head, Collaboration & Global Engagement, Universitas Ciputra
Under the same roof, you're getting so many higher education institutions across the world. And it's an opportunity for building relationships and collaborations. For us, it was about looking at research collaborations and also to find out the right partners in the Southeast Asia region and maybe offering dual degree programs or joint collaborations. Our purpose has been served because a lot of good Southeast Asian universities are here. Meenakshi S. Khurana, Executive Director and Dean, International Affairs and Collaborations, Manav Rachna Educational Institutions
I had a really good chance to communicate what my university wants. I found real potential for my university to partner with others. We have been talking about how we can move forward through collaborations, research and publications, student and staff mobility. So, we have made plans together, leading up to the next summit. Melba M. Angina, Director, International Affairs and Linkages Office, Mindanao State University
It's been very helpful to establish contact with other universities and we were able to explore the possible collaborations with reputed institutions across the world. The purpose of attending this meeting has been fulfilled. K. Ramakrishna, Dean and Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Koneru Lakshmaiah Education Foundation
This summit reminds me to use AI to make us stronger and wise, guided by curiosity and open minds. Lim Chee Leong, Associate Professor and Director, Learning and Development, Taylor’s University