The Association of Universities of Asia and the Pacific (AUAP), commemorated three 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 from the Philippines and Thailand, the event took place on 21–23 May at the Chardonnay by Astoria in Pasig City, Manila, Philippines, bringing together 170 participants from 49 institutions 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, read a press release.

Dr Carmen Z Lamagna, a member of the AIUB Board of Trustees and the former vice-chancellor (1997-2023) of AIUB, as well as 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 and AUAP Advisory Council.

During the 30th AUAP Anniversary Celebration, held on 23 May, 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.

Facilitated by Carlin Noelle Zita Lamagna, the deputy director for the Office of Planning and Development and senior assistant professor, Department of Economics, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Dr Lamagna forged 16 new partnerships and renewed two 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) signed with these participating institutions at the conference.

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