We are looking forward to engaging with colleagues and partners at the Asia-Pacific Association for International Education (APAIE) 2026 Conference and Exhibition in Hong Kong as we deepen our commitment to the Asia-Pacific region. This year, we will highlight our thought leadership through research-driven insights, regional expertise, and case studies showcasing impactful partnerships and program models across Asia-Pacific. APAIE also serves as a strategic platform for IIE to identify emerging trends and new opportunities shaping the future of international education.

IIE President and CEO Jason Czyz and Executive Vice President Jonah Kokodyniak will attend the conference, along with several team members who will represent the organization through speaking engagements and conference sessions. Together, their participation underscores our continued investment in strengthening regional partnerships and advancing innovation across the global higher education landscape.

IIE team members representing EducationUSA will be present in the exhibition hall.

Follow us on social media, using the hashtags #APAIE2026 and #IIEatAPAIE2026.

The IIE delegation to APAIE includes:

• Jason Czyz – CEO and President
• Jonah Kokodyniak – Executive Vice President, Program Development and Partner Services
• Sylvia S. Jons – Director, IIE Center for International Partnerships
• Jonathan Lembright – Regional Director, IIE Southeast Asia
• Diana Kartika, Executive Director, Indonesian International Education Foundation (IIEF) 
• Chainarong Thongboonchuen, Scholarship Lead 
• Lewis Cardenas – Regional Manager (REAC) for South Asia, EducationUSA
• Vincent Flores – Regional Manager (REAC) for Northeast Asia and the Pacific, EducationUSA 
• Luke Yim – Regional Manager (REAC) for East Asia and the Pacific, EducationUSA 

IIE Sessions

Team members will present during the following sessions.

Wednesday, February 25

Partnerships for the Global Good: Expanding Opportunity for At-Risk Students and Scholars

15:55:00−16:40:00 | Concurrent 1, Room S421, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre

This session will examine how higher education institutions, foundations, and international organizations can collaborate to support pipelines and opportunity for displaced learners and scholars. The discussion emphasizes collaboration grounded in trust, shared responsibility, and practical support/coordination.

• Chair: Jason CZYZ, CEO and President, IIE
• Jonah Kokodyniak, Executive Vice President, Program Development and Partner Services, IIE
• Aki TAKADA, Vice President (Director of Refugee Education), Japan ICU, Foundation, Refugee Education Japan
• Luksmon SMANSIN, Director of the International Affairs Division, Ministry of Higher Education
• Nopraenue Sajjarax DHIRATHITI, APAIE Vice President and Vice President for Global Partnerships and University Council, Mahidol University

Thursday, February 26

Sustainable, Strategic Mobility: Building Global Partnerships for Good

09:20:00−10:05:00 | Concurrent 1, Room S421, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre

As global engagement evolves, institutions seek student mobility programs that are sustainable, inclusive, and aligned with long-term goals. This session brings together leaders from Asia and the U.S. to showcase innovative models that advance opportunities and collaboration in international education. Attendees will leave with data-informed insights and adaptable strategies to scale sustainable, inclusive student mobility initiatives.

• Chair: Sylvia S. JONS, Director, IIE Center for International Partnerships, IIE
• Vivian WANG, Senior International Officer, University of Tulsa
• Pauline HO, Head, Global Education Partnerships, Nanyang Technological University
• Cindy LAM, Education Specialist, U.S. Consulate General Hong Kong and Macau
• Viva DU, Head of International Progams, Shanghai Jiao Tong University

Partnerships to pathways: University access for Asia’s most vulnerable

09:20:00−10:05:00 | Concurrent 3, Room S423 – S424, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre

This session will begin by providing an overview of displaced students in Asia Pacific and the role of higher education. The essential role of partnerships will be explored within the context of pathways to access for students, as well as specific challenges and opportunities for those looking to deepen their engagement. The region has a unique opportunity to serve these students through the thousands of high-quality institutions and existing partnerships.

• Chair: Jonathan LEMBRIGHT, Regional Director, IIE Southeast Asia
• Rebecca GRANATO, Associate Vice President, Bard College
• Ian HOLIDAY, Vice-President, University of Hong Kong
• Brett BLACKER, Managing Director Australia & New Zealand Duolingo

Bridging Borders: The Transformative Power of Student Mobility in Fostering Global Understanding and Conflict Resolution

12:30:00−13:00:00 | Concurrent 5, Room S426, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre

In an era marked by international tensions and fractures, the role of student mobility has never been more vital. This dynamic presentation explores how student exchanges and international mobility initiatives can serve as powerful catalysts for peace, mutual understanding, and conflict resolution across the globe.

• Jonathan LEMBRIGHT, Regional Director, IIE Southeast Asia
• Guy PERRING, Regional Director Asia, ETIO 
• Sebastian GRIES, Regional Director, DAAD 
• Euphemia CHOW, Head of Global Mobility programmes, HKUST 

Launching the IIE International Partnership Survey – in East Asia and the Pacific

13:05-13:35 | CONCURRENT 20B, Room S422, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre

In early 2026 APAIE and the Institute of International Education (IIE) will jointly administer the first comprehensive survey on international partnerships among institutions of higher education (HEIs) in East Asia and the Pacific. The survey is the second phase of a five-year global effort to gather information useful to HEIs, organizations and governmental agencies that support HEIs, and the field of international education in understanding the rapidly changing partnership landscape and shaping effective partnership programs. This session offers an introduction to the survey and the opportunity to comment and ask questions before the survey goes live in a few weeks. The session will cover the survey’s goals and questions, as well as important findings from the first phase of the survey, which was done in Europe, the U.S. and Canada.

• Sylvia S. JONS, Director, IIE Center for International Partnerships, IIE
• TBD, APAIE