The Asian University Alliance (AUA) Summit 2018 was held in Hainan, China from April 8 – April 10, 2018. Representatives from 15 member universities were invited to attend. Qiu Yong, the President of Tsinghua University and Founding Chairman of the AUA, lead the discussion with the representatives on important issues of the alliance.

The representatives were also invited to participate in the opening ceremony of the 2018 Boao Forum for Asia and attended the education roundtable of the “Rise of Asian Universities” as guest speakers. The representatives were invited to attend the “Hainan-Asia University Dialogue” roundtable held at Tsinghua Sanya International Mathmatics Forum.

PHOTO: Roundtable of the "Rise of Asian Universities", Secretariat of Boao Forum

On the second council of the AUA held on April 9^th, Mr. Qiu reviewed the major events and student programs held since the establishment of the AUA and appreciated the hard work done by member universities and the Secretary of the Alliance. Mr. Qiu stated that in the following year, the AUA will create more exchange programs, hoping that the member universities will continue close cooperation to promote the development of the AUA.

The Secretary of AUA spoke on the 2017-2018 fiscal revenue and expenditure and the 2018-2019 annual budget. The Secretary also reported to the council on the vote of the member universities’ 2018-2019 activity proposals, 14 of which were passed. For example, proposals of the graduate student academic conference, graduate student education forum, and the AUA library materials share program by Tsinghua were all passed. The council also negotiated important issues such as the observer status of the AUA, fundraising and acceptance of donations, and foreign exchanges of the AUA.

 PHOTO: Mr. Qiu Yong Speaking at the Conference, Tsinghua Universtiy News

During the opening ceremony of the Boao Forum for Asia, representatives attended the roundtable “The Rise of the Asian Universities” and conducted in-depth discussion on issues, such as the responsibility and mission of Asian universities, the role of Asian universities in the fourth industrial revolution, innovation and technology transfer, and were able to draw up a beautiful blueprint for higher education in Asia.

During the Summit of the AUA, the “Hainan-Asia University Dialogue" roundtable was held at the Tsinghua Sanya International Mathematics Forum. More than 50 representatives of the AUA and 15 universities in Hainan Province attended the meeting. The honored guests held lively discussions on the two topics of “International Cooperation in Higher Education in Asia” and “University Service Society” to exchange practical experience. Mr. Li Yuenan, Deputy Director of the Department of Education of Hainan Province, stated that informationization and internationalization are the two wings of Hainan’s education development. He hopes that the roundtable meeting will become the beginning of cooperation and exchange between Hainan’s universities and the AUA member universities, and will continue to strengthen both sides in the future. The interactions and exchanges should be given full play to their respective advantages in each universities and continue to deepen their cooperation in personnel training and scientific research.

PHOTO: AUA Representatives Group, Tsinghua Universtiy News

Edited by Ran Yu