The Asian Universities Alliance Presidents Forum is taking place at Nazarbayev University in Astana, bringing together leading university presidents from across Asia and beyond.
The forum featured university leaders from leading institutions across Asia and beyond, including Tsinghua University, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Nazarbayev University, United Arab Emirates University, Chulalongkorn University, The University of Tokyo, Vietnam National University, and Seoul National University.
Discussions focus on two key areas shaping the future of higher education: rethinking university governance models and strengthening collaboration with business and industry.
Originally scheduled to take place in the United Arab Emirates, the summit was relocated to Astana due to regional instability. The decision reflected both Kazakhstan’s growing international engagement and confidence in Nazarbayev University as a leading research university in the region.
Participants are discussing institutional agility, academic autonomy, innovative governance approaches, and leadership models for future universities. The discussions also address how industry partnerships can enhance teaching and learning, support practice-oriented education, and help universities better align academic programs with labor market needs while preserving academic values and long-term sustainability.
About the Asian Universities Alliance
Founded in 2017 at Tsinghua University in Beijing, the Asian Universities Alliance brought together 15 leading universities across the region. Nazarbayev University — ranked in the 401–500 band and recognized as the top university in Central Asia and the Caucasus in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026 — is one of the alliance’s founding members.
