The key to a stable world lies in our ability to collaborate across borders and find solutions that benefit all. If we have learnt anything over the past few years, the world's greatest challenges cannot be solved by isolation, but by the unity of us working together towards a common goal – to do better, to be better. Effectively, change is almost impossible without it, after all great discoveries invariably involve many great minds.

Inspiring change for a better world, the Association of Universities of the Asia and the Pacific (AUAP), commemorated 3 major milestones in their Joint Events this year, the 9th AUAP Forum and Networking focusing on "Global Networks: Paving the Way for Innovative, Diverse, and Sustainable Academic Landscapes in Asia and the Pacific", the 36th Annual Conference aimed at "Advancing Excellence for Global Sustainability by Aligning Institutions to World Rankings and Ratings", and “30th  Anniversary Celebration of AUAP”. Hosted by 12 esteemed universities of the Philippines and Thailand, Rizal Technology University (RTU), Pan Pacific University (PPU), Centro Escolar University (CEU), Davao Del Sur State College (DSSC), Bataan Peninsula State University (BPSU), Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University (DMMMSU), Lyceum of the Philippines University–Batangas (LPU-Batangas), Davao Oriental State University (DorSU), University of Northern Philippines (UNP), World City Colleges (WCC), and The Master's Institute Development Academy & Seminary (MIDAS) on the 21st – 23rd of May 2025 at the Chardonnay by Astoria in Pasig City, Manila, Philippines, brought together 170 participants of 49 institutions from across 15 countries in Asia, Europe, Australia, and North America.

As one of the long-standing members of the association since 2003, the American International University – Bangladesh (AIUB) proactively participated in the insightful keynote sessions, engaging panel discussions, and remarkable paper presentations made at the conference. Dr. Carmen Z. Lamagna, a Member of the AIUB Board of Trustees and the former Vice Chancellor (1997-2023) of AIUB, as well a member of the Advisory Council (2020-2024) and a former President (2008-2010) of AUAP, attended the 55th AUAP Executive Board Meeting with the AUAP Executive Board & AUAP Advisory Council. During the 30th AUAP Anniversary Celebration, held on the 

23rd of May 2025, she also shared her experience, reflecting on AUAP’s significant impact on the global landscape of higher education, her efforts and contributions towards that as a former AUAP President, and the importance of international partnerships in advancing higher education across Asia and the Pacific even further.

The conference served as a powerful catalyst over its three days of valuable networking opportunities, enabling numerous strategic international collaborations between institutions. Facilitated by Ms. Carlin Noelle Zita Lamagna, the Deputy Director for the Office of Planning and Development and Senior Assistant Professor, Department of Economics, Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences, Dr. Lamagna forged 16 new partnerships and renewed 2 existing ones, on behalf of AIUB, to foster mutually beneficial initiatives aimed at enriching and elevating higher education through shared ideas, program development, and enhanced research under the Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were signed with these participating institutions at the conference –

Additionally, 12 more constructive collaborations were discussed with other participating institutions, that are to be formalized through virtual signing ceremonies after the conference, in the presence of representatives of the university management of the partnering institutions.

There's no better way to bridge the gap in holistic education than through educational exchanges, driven by the collective vision of today's and tomorrow's leaders. Over time, they have stood out as the most potent tools for delivering a truly holistic education, powered by the combined efforts of current and future leaders. The internationalization of higher education is no longer just an aspiration; it's imperative for achieving progressive growth in the ever-evolving global educational environment and beyond transcending borders. AIUB has always recognized the importance of strengthening education systems to embrace the international socio-cultural diversity of our interconnected world. The commitments made at this year's conference by the institutions of higher education like AIUB, along with the unyielding support of AUAP, will undoubtedly be instrumental in bringing about this crucial transformation across the broad spectrum of higher education over time.