UI Rector: ASEAN Has Opportunity to Become Global Education Hub
Depok (ANTARA) - Rector of Universitas Indonesia (UI), Prof. Heri Hermansyah, outlined that the ASEAN region possesses a strategic opportunity to become a new global hub for higher education growth.
“However, it requires strengthening cross-border collaborations, improving the quality of joint research, and utilising data as a basis for policy-making so that higher education institutions in this region can enhance their competitiveness while delivering tangible impacts for society,” said Prof. Heri Hermansyah during the “In-Depth Briefing: ASEAN Higher Education” session at the QS China Summit 2026, as quoted in his statement in Depok on Saturday.
In his presentation based on the latest Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) report, Heri highlighted ASEAN’s main strengths, which lie in its young demographics, increasing education investments, and growing regional collaborations.
Nevertheless, he emphasised that this potential needs to be accelerated through stronger integration between higher education institutions, industry, and data-based public policies.
Additionally, the importance of enhancing student and faculty mobility as an instrument to strengthen knowledge exchange and innovation in the region.
The presentation was part of the QS China Summit 2026 series, held on 8–9 April 2026 at Futian Shangri-La, Shenzhen.
With the theme “Connected Cities, Collaborative Campuses”, this forum discussed the transformation of higher education through four main pillars: skills and workforce development, world-class university strategies, international mobility, and accelerating research and technology.
The presence of UI’s Rector at this forum affirms Universitas Indonesia’s active role in the global higher education landscape, while strengthening UI’s position as a strategic partner in developing collaborations in the Asia-Pacific region. UI continues to promote tangible contributions in addressing global challenges through research, innovation, and cross-border partnerships.
UI’s participation in this forum also serves as a strategic step to expand international cooperation, particularly in research, innovation, and academic mobility, as well as to strengthen Indonesia’s contributions to the global higher education landscape.