From January 12 to 14, the International Association of University Presidents (IAUP) regional conference was held in Putrajaya, Malaysia, bringing together university presidents and rectors from around the world. The event was attended by Assylbek Kozhakhmetov, President of AlmaU, who presented the university’s vision in the context of global transformations in higher education.
The conference gathered representatives from universities across the Asia-Pacific region, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, North and Latin America, giving the discussions a truly global character and highlighting the growing role of Asia and the Global South in shaping the new international educational agenda. The central theme of the forum was “Global Connections & Collective Growth,” reflecting the transition of the global academic environment from a logic of competition to a model of cooperation, partnership, and collective development.
In his address, Assylbek Kozhakhmetov emphasized that the traditional “old internationalization” model, based on one-way mobility and formal metrics, is giving way to a new approach centered on the exchange of values, cultural dialogue, joint development of educational programs, and the cultivation of responsible leadership. Special attention was given to the concept of an impact-driven university, focused on real influence on society, the economy, and the innovation ecosystem.
During plenary sessions and panel discussions, participants discussed the transformation of internationalization, the role of universities in the era of artificial intelligence, the rethinking of academic mobility, and the shift from formal quantitative indicators to real social and economic impact. Particular attention was also given to universities’ responsibility for sustainable development and maintaining the human dimension of education in the context of digital and geopolitical change.
It was also announced that the next IAUP regional conference will be hosted by AlmaU from June 11 to 13, 2026, reinforcing the university’s growing role as an important platform for international academic dialogue and strategic initiatives.
A key practical outcome of the conference was the signing of a cooperation agreement with the host institution, INTI International University, aimed at developing academic exchanges, joint educational and research projects, and expanding international opportunities for students and faculty.
Participation of the AlmaU President in the IAUP conference and the agreements reached confirmed the university’s commitment to active engagement in the global academic agenda, strengthening international connections, and developing partnerships based on equality, shared growth, and real societal impact.
The International Association of University Presidents (IAUP) is a global association uniting presidents and rectors from over 120 countries, serving as a platform for dialogue among academic leaders, sharing best practices, and developing strategic solutions in higher education to promote sustainable development and enhance international cooperation.
AlmaU’s engagement with IAUP is not only a contribution to international discourse but also a strategic step in developing the university as an open global platform, where new meanings of education are formed, sustainable partnerships are created, and initiatives are launched that can have a real impact on society, the economy, and the region’s future.