The APRU Senior International Leaders’ Meeting 2024 represented this year’s key event where the Senior International Leaders (SIL) from APRU’s member universities could connect and exchange ideas on how to overcome a range of limits by leveraging lifelong learning, scholar and student mobility, and technologies in teaching and learning.

Held under the theme Learning without Limits and hosted by the Keio University in Tokyo, Japan, October 9-11, the international meeting involved 88 attendees, including 32 Senior International Leaders and 38 Provosts/Vice Presidents from 44 universities across 16 economies, which made it one of the most-attended and diverse SIL Meetings ever.

High on the agenda the discussions took a deep dive into the many challenges that universities face globally including declining birth rates, aging demographics, geopolitical risks, economic security, research integrity, regional disparity, globalization, and the advent of new technologies represented by AI.

“This meeting harnessed the collective expertise and insights of the APRU network to enhance the resilience and adaptability of higher education institutions,” said Prof. Kohei Itoh, the President of Keio University in his keynote address.

“It was not just a meeting but a collaborative effort to shape a unified approach towards a sustainable and inclusive future in higher education.”

The event provided ample space for forward-looking panel discussions. Setting the scene, Prof. Motohiro Tsuchiya, Vice-President for Global Engagement and Information Technology at Keio University highlighted the importance of international university cooperation, with Japanese universities serving as a case study.  Prof. Natalie Konomi, Vice President for International Affairs, Kyushu University and Prof. Toshiya Ueki, Executive Vice President for General Affairs, International Affairs, and Academic Resources, Tohoku University shared the current challenges that universities face in Japan related to the economy, student mobility, and technology.

In a keynote address on Innovating Higher Education through Creative Technologies, Prof. Yike Guo, Provost of The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, shared insights about how the integration of art and AI is transforming both the creation of art and the landscape of higher education.  “There are unprecedented avenues for creativity and innovation in higher education when you blend the intuitive and expressive nature of art with the analytical power of AI. As educators we can foster a new generation of thinkers who are not only technically proficient but also creatively inspired.”

Prof. Helen Sullivan, Dean of The Australian National University’s College of Asia and the Pacific, in her keynote address delved into the role of educators in enhancing collaborative learning. “In the realm of collaborative learning–understanding, at the core, the point at which multiple spaces, knowledges, and technologies intersect is paramount. Our work must transcend traditional boundaries, integrating diverse perspectives and innovative tools to foster environments where all voices are heard and valued. This approach not only enriches the learning experience but also empowers communities to address complex challenges collectively,” Sullivan said.

This was followed by a keynote of Laura Hassink, Managing Director of Elsevier’s STM Journals, sharing insights on the opportunities and threats of AI in the scientific publishing landscape and  exploring how the community can work together to ensure the responsible use of AI to maintain trust in science. “As we navigate the evolving landscape of artificial intelligence, it is crucial for the scientific community to collaborate in ensuring the responsible use of AI.

To ensure trustworthiness of science we must use AI carefully, to avoid new biases or errors and ensure transparency and accountability with oversight of the human expert eye. We need to use AI responsibly in publishing and analytics and it is important to remember that technology alone isn’t enough. It all starts with people, good practices, and a strong research culture,”Hassink said.

Two sessions focused on the values and impact of the association and strategies to embed this in the future direction. The speakers highlighted specific values and discussed their relevance to APRU as well as the challenges that are associated with upholding them in a multipolar world. Speakers also discussed how the network’s impact can be enhanced; how effectiveness and impact can be measured; and considered new ways the network should seek impact in collaboration with its member universities.

Prof. Cindy Fan, Vice Provost for International Studies and Global Engagement, University of California, Los Angeles who moderated the session on Values in Education and APRU’s Work, added “Our APRU core values—trust and respect, diversity, equity, and inclusion, work collaboration and knowledge co-creation, and sustainability—will guide us in setting priorities and identifying what is truly important for our collective future. We believe that a statement of APRU values is essential.”

“We hope that insights from these discussions can feed back into our common work on APRU programs and initiatives, or could be taken up by the International Advisory Committee in a more strategic way,” said APRU Chief Executive Thomas Schneider.

SILM 2024’s keynote speeches and panel discussions were flanked by a guided museums tour of the Keio University Museum Commons (KeMCo) and The Fukuzawa Yukichi Memorial Keio History Museum. The Senior International Leaders also enjoyed a networking dinner overlooking the magnificent Tokyo Tower.

SILM 2024 contributed to a carbon offset project via ClimeCo, a global sustainability company. The Afognak Island Forest Project, a landmark project in remote Alaska, was established in 2006 and designed to protect over 8,000 acres of a 200-year-old native spruce forest and increase carbon sequestration by providing financial incentives for shifting from timber production management to conservation management. Avoidance of emissions stems from the prevention of logging, whereas removals are derived by retaining native and naturally regenerating logged forests to store and sequester carbon.

The SILM 2025 will be hosted by the Universidad San Francisco de Quito in Quito/ The Galápagos Islands, Ecuador, in the fall. This follows the 29th Annual Presidents’ Meeting 2025 at the University of California, San Diego, USA, June 22 – 24.

Click here to access the photos of the SILM 2024. 

Photo credit: Aki Takematsu, Keio University