EduAsiaNews, Depok – The Rector of Universitas Indonesia (UI), Prof. Dr. Ir. Heri Hermansyah, S.T., M.Eng., IPU, served as a speaker in the President’s Dialogue Session at the annual conference of the Asia-Pacific Association for International Education (APAIE) 2026. During the forum, which convened higher education leaders from various countries, the Rector of UI delivered a speech entitled “The Mandate for Future-Proofing Education,” emphasizing the importance of adaptability and integrity in higher education in an era of disruption.
In his address, Prof. Heri underscored that disruptions driven by rapid technological advancement, climate change, geopolitical dynamics, and economic uncertainty have become a global inevitability. Consequently, universities can no longer confine themselves to the role of knowledge providers; they must also equip students with the capacity to navigate continually evolving challenges.
“Higher education must move beyond traditional models. We must prepare students not only for today’s professions, but also for future challenges that have yet to be defined,” Prof. Heri stated.
In fostering resilient education systems, he highlighted three essential capacities required for the future: adaptability; a shift toward experiential and lifelong learning; and responsibility.
Adaptability refers to the cultivation of critical thinking, creativity, and resilience among students. Lifelong learning encompasses the strengthening of project-based learning, collaboration with industry, global mobility, and the development of sustainable reskilling and upskilling ecosystems. Responsibility ensures that growth and innovation remain aligned with the principles of sustainability and social inclusion.
According to Prof. Heri, the strength of universities lies in their diversity and dynamism. Through closer regional and international collaboration, joint innovation initiatives, and sustained investment in lifelong learning ecosystems, higher education institutions can transform disruption into strategic opportunity. “The purpose of higher education is not merely to produce job-ready graduates, but to nurture agile innovators and global citizens of integrity,” he affirmed.
APAIE 2026 is an international education conference and exhibition in the Asia-Pacific region held from 23–27 February 2026 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Hong Kong. The conference attracted approximately 2,500 delegates from more than 65 countries and territories, comprising higher education leaders, policymakers, and professionals in the international education sector.
Under the theme “Asia-Pacific Partnerships for the Global Good,” APAIE 2026 underscored the transformative role of international higher education in building global partnerships for the common good. Key strategic issues discussed included cross-border education trends, the strengthening of research collaboration, student mobility, and the contribution of higher education institutions to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The conference featured plenary and parallel sessions, dialogues among university leaders from around the world, an international education exhibition, policy workshops on education investment, and various networking forums designed to foster cross-border academic and research partnerships.
The participation of the Rector of Universitas Indonesia in this forum reaffirms the University’s commitment to expanding its international networks, strengthening cross-border collaboration, and playing an active role in shaping an adaptive, sustainable, and integrity-driven future for higher education in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond.
