Leaders of Asia's leading universities gathered in Astana for the Asian Universities Alliance (AUA) Presidents Forum 2026.

The forum was attended by representatives of leading universities from Asia and other world regions, 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.

Welcoming the forum participants, the Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Sayasat Nurbek, emphasized that the country is consistently developing a future-oriented higher education system.

Minister Sayasat Nurbek also stressed Kazakhstan's openness to expanding cooperation with Asian universities and jointly overcoming future challenges.

The forum brought together presidents, provosts, and university leaders to discuss how higher education institutions can remain resilient, innovative, and socially relevant in a rapidly changing world.

As part of the summit, working sessions were held regarding the financial sustainability of the AUA and the development of the alliance's three-year strategy. Participants discussed the progress achieved, the timelines for implementing future initiatives, and the strategic priorities for the next phase of cooperation. During the summit, the presidency of the Alliance was passed from United Arab Emirates University to Chulalongkorn University.

"Over the past two decades, the center of gravity in higher education has noticeably shifted. Today, some of the most dynamically developing and globally significant research universities are located precisely in Asia. The Asian Universities Alliance includes both recognized world leaders—Tsinghua University, Peking University, The University of Tokyo, Seoul National University, and The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology—as well as more compact but highly specialized centers of academic excellence, such as the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay and Nazarbayev University. We are united by a commitment to cooperate in solving global challenges through research and education," noted the President of Nazarbayev University, Professor Waqar Ahmad.

The forum program included two thematic sessions. The session "Governance Models for Universities of the Future" was dedicated to how universities are rethinking leadership and decision-making systems in response to digital transformation, financial challenges, and changing stakeholder expectations. Participants discussed institutional agility, academic autonomy, innovative approaches to governance, and leadership models for the universities of the future.

The second session, "The Role of Industry in University Education: Practices and Challenges," focused on the interaction between universities and industry. The discussion touched upon how partnerships can enhance the educational process, support practice-oriented learning, and help universities adapt educational programs to labor market demands while preserving academic values and the long-term sustainability of cooperation.

The discussions allowed for the formulation of practical conclusions and strengthened cooperation between the member institutions of the Asian Universities Alliance. The forum contributed to the ongoing international dialogue on how universities can adapt to new conditions while maintaining their core academic mission.

About the Asian Universities Alliance

The Asian Universities Alliance was founded in 2017 at Tsinghua University in Beijing and brought together 15 leading universities in the region. Nazarbayev University, which is ranked in the 401–500 band of the world's leading universities and recognized as the best university in Central Asia and the Caucasus according to the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026, is one of the co-founders of the alliance.