We look forward to joining colleagues at the Asia-Pacific Association for International Education (APAIE) 2025 Conference and Exhibition. Key team members of IIE will be in attendance to connect with important partners in the region.

The APAIE 2025 delegation consists of:

• Jonah Kokdyniak – Executive Vice President, Program Development and Partner Services
• Vivek Mansukhani – IIE India Director
• Jonathan Lembright – Regional Director, IIE Southeast Asia
• Mirka Martel – Head of Research, Evaluation and Learning
• Sylvia Jons – Director, Center for International Partnerships

Sessions featuring IIE speakers include

Global Partnerships: The Current Landscape and Southeast Asia Perspectives
Tuesday, March 25, 10:30-11:15am

Global partnerships are crucial for advancing education, research, and policy initiatives. This session, facilitated by the U.S. Department of State and the Institute of International Education’s Center for International Partnerships (IIE CIP), explores international collaborations in the Asia Pacific region, particularly in Pacific island countries. The session will conclude with a panel discussion and Q&A. Attendees will gain a modern understanding of global partnerships, best practices, and strategies to enhance their collaborations.

• Chair – Sylvia Jons, Director, Center for International Partnerships, IIE
• Lisa Pawloski, Senior Associate Dean, Professor of Anthropology, University of Alabama
• Jacqueline Mourot, Cultural and Education Attaché, U.S. Embassy Bangkok, Thailand

Fostering Global Citizenship through Student Mobility Programmes
Tuesday, March 25, 4:45-5:30pm

This panel will explore case studies and data on student mobility’s role in fostering global citizenship. International exchange programs have become catalysts for global understanding and cooperation. By examining mobility models and their facilitation of cultural exchange, diverse perspectives, and cross-cultural competencies, we aim to highlight how these models can maximize their transformative impact. Experts will provide insights into how different programs help institutions achieve global education goals. Assessments, including quantitative and qualitative data, will show the development of global responsibility and appreciation for diversity. Student reflections will illustrate how mobility enriches experiences, challenges worldviews, fosters personal growth, and contributes to global solutions. By the end of this panel, participants will understand how student mobility shapes informed, empathetic, and proactive global citizens and how these models can be deployed at their institutions.

• Chair – Guy Perring, Regional Director, Asia, Etio Global, Malaysia
• Jonathan Lembright, Regional Director, IIE Southeast Asia
• Shally Fan, Director of Academic Links, Chinese University of Hong Kong
• Brian Masshardt, Associate Professor of Global Studies, Musashi University

Shifting Tides, the Rise of USA/India Higher Education Collaborations
Wednesday, March 26, 08:30-09:15am

For decades, U.S.-China relations have shaped student population flows and global economic relations. With shifting political dynamics, demographics, and the rise of India’s economy, India has become the U.S.’s new strategic market and talent pool. Parallel to this movement, India’s education policy reforms have made the two university systems more compatible. International education experts from both countries weigh in on the opportunities these evolutions have provided and present critical insights on navigating this complex and diverse landscape. How can universities take advantage of these new policies and current events to make sustainable alliances? What new opportunities have arisen with the NEP, and how can universities develop mutually beneficial collaborations? How can Indian Institutions establish partnerships with U.S. universities that support their international strategies? What impact do the recent presidential elections have on long-term partnerships and relationships?

• Chair – Vivek Mansukhani, IIE India Director
• Akhil Bhardwaj, Associate Dean & Director, O.P. Jindal Global University (JGU)
• Tashina Giraud, Director of International Partnerships & Strategic Initiatives, American University
• Kim Pernice, Associate Director of Partnerships, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

Supporting AI in Higher Education for a Global Workforce
Wednesday, March 26, 09:30-10:15am

As workforce skills are shifting in an AI-powered and globalized world, the tertiary education sector must adapt to meet these needs. The fundamental role of higher education in meeting the needs of the future global economy requires ongoing research and dialogue on AI, higher education, and workforce development. This panel will discuss new areas of inquiry that are being explored by the Research Consortium on AI, Higher Education, and the Global Workforce. Key areas of discussion will include AI-enabled practices for teaching and learning at colleges and universities, strategies for university learning and skills needs in an AI-enabled global workforce, and recognition of challenges related to data security and privacy.

• Chair – Mirka Martel, Head of Research, Evaluation and Learning
• Shibani Khanra Jha, Associate Professor, BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus, India
• Elaine Sharplin, General Director, Nazarbayev University
• Selma Talha-Jebril, Education Policy and Research Manager, Qatar Foundation, Qatar

Advancing UNSDGs through Global Partnerships: IIE, KIIT/KISS & University of Tulsa
Wednesday, March 26, 10:45-11:30am

This session will highlight how global partnerships advance the UNSDGs through educational collaboration, focusing on the University of Tulsa (TU), Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS), and Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT). TU’s JumpstartTU program, which immerses first-year students in cultural and historical exploration, is expanding to India with KISS and KIIT. Launched in Panama and now active in Mexico and Germany, this program features community service projects aligned with UNSDGs. KISS impacts Indigenous communities with its “3E model” (Educate, Enable, Empower), offering holistic education and vocational training. KIIT is recognized globally for its contributions to ‘Reduced Inequalities’ and its UNSDG efforts. TU will also share their work with Indigenous communities through their Native American Law Center. The Institute of International Education (IIE) and its Center for International Partnerships foster these collaborations. This initiative marks the start of a broader partnership strategy between TU, KIIT, and KISS.

• Chair – Sylvia Jons, Director, Center for International Partnerships, IIE
• Dwiti Vikramaditya, Vice President, KIIT University & KISS University
• Vivian Wang, Vice Provost for Global Engagement, The University of Tulsa

Linkages in East Asia: International Student Markets to Expand Outreach
Wednesday, March 26, 3:45-4:30pm

International student recruitment strategies can explore emerging horizons for recruitment in East Asia. This panel will review trends in top East Asian international student markets, including China, Japan, South Korea, or Taiwan. The panel will review global student mobility data, prospective student data, and hear from experts focusing on student mobility, partnerships, and recruitment in this region. The panel will feature institutions recruiting in these countries and their strategies for outreach. The panel will answer the questions: How can colleges and universities better diversify their international recruitment of students from East Asia? What are the priorities and realities of prospective students from these regions, and how can colleges and universities better prepare for their success? What considerations should colleges and universities have in terms of broader research or academic partnerships with East Asian institutions?

• Chair – Mirka Martel, Head of Research, Evaluation and Learning, IIE
• Hiroshi Ota, Professor, Hitotsubashi University

Advancing Opportunity: Trends in International Recruitment & Admissions
Thursday, March 27, 08:30-09:15am

Amidst ongoing change in the international education admissions landscape, our colleagues on both sides of the desk are challenged by serving students with more postsecondary opportunities than ever before. Amidst evolving assessment requirements, the rise of AI, and the proliferation of technologies that facilitate truly global student recruitment, it’s an exciting – and daunting – time to be in our profession. Drawing on the collective expertise of university admissions representatives and researchers, we will delve into real-world insights and best practices observed in the field this year. Supported by the latest insights on mobility and college-going behavior from the College Board and IIE, this discussion will go beyond statistics and provide actionable strategies for navigating current trends, policy changes, fostering diversity within enrolling classes, and supporting students’ success during their transition to postsecondary study.

• Chair – Scott Smith, Senior Director, International Higher Education, College Board
• Mirka Martel, Head of Research, Evaluation and Learning, IIE
• Nishant Jadhav, Senior Regional Manager, University of Sydney
• Derek Kindle, Vice Provost for Enrollment Management, University of Wisconsin-Madison