The Times Higher Education Asia Universities Summit 2026 opened in Hong Kong, hosted by the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), bringing together leaders from top universities across the region. The Nazarbayev University delegation is led by President Professor Waqar Ahmad. The delegation also includes Provost Rehan Sadiq, Vice President Assel Uvaliyeva, Vice President and Dean of the School of Medicine Huck Hui Ng, and Vice Provost for Research Bjorn Birgisson.
Discussions focus on rethinking scientific leadership as Asia’s research capacity grows rapidly. Participants are examining whether the region can shape the global research agenda and what institutional strategies are needed to move from quantitative growth to meaningful impact.
Speaking at a closed session, professor Waqar Ahmad said that NU attracts outstanding students, and that approximately 25% of its research publications are co-authored with students—an indicator that remains rare even among leading research universities worldwide. He added that the university is focused on building its own innovation ecosystem and integrating artificial intelligence into key sectors, including medicine, fintech, and supply chain management.
The three-day summit will also include the presentation of the THE Asia University Rankings 2026 and the THE Awards Asia 2026, which recognizes outstanding practices in academic leadership across the region.
