The Presidential Dialogue brings together university presidents and QS representatives to exchange insights on evolving global higher education priorities. Held as part of the QS Higher Ed Summit: Asia Pacific 2024, the dialogue focuses on the key themes of recruitment, performance, and innovation, as well as how universities can address the challenges and opportunities in the 21st century academic landscape.
Recruitment and Skills: Adapting to Changing Needs
The recruitment landscape is becoming increasingly complex with institutions focusing beyond attracting new undergraduate students. Universities are now exploring lifelong learning, micro-credentials, and cross-border education to reach a wider audience and prepare students for a complex global job market.
The Vice-Chancellor I, Professor Imam Santoso of Universitas Brawijaya highlighted the importance of employability skills as an urgent priority, noting that students and families increasingly expect tangible assurance that their education will lead to career opportunities. This shift in focus is driving universities to integrate skills training and employability into their recruitment strategies.
Performance and Innovation: Enhancing Institutional Impact
While rankings remain an important measure of institutional performance, QS stresses the need for universities to look beyond traditional metrics to achieve sustainable growth and impact. The discussion highlighted the risks of stagnation and the need for universities to innovate in order to maintain competitiveness. The message is clear: in 2024, the risks of maintaining the status quo far outweigh the risks of change. Adopting new methodologies and technologies is essential for universities looking for ranking improvement and achieve their educational mission.
Simplifying the Future of Higher Education: Recruitment, Skills, Performance and Innovation
The discussion is structured around two main objectives: recruitment and performance, with each area linked to the evolving dimensions of skills and innovation. The summit underscored QS’s unique role in supporting institutions in these two interrelated areas, while highlighting the link between recruitment and skills development, and performance and a culture of sustainable innovation.
The event was attended by a range of education leaders, including Prof. Joseph Hun-wei Lee, President and Chancellor of the Macau University of Science and Technology (M.U.S.T.), who highlighted the immense potential of Macau’s higher education; Prof. Alexander Wai, President and Chancellor of Hong Kong Baptist University, who shared insights on the region’s higher education landscape; Prof. Dato’ Dr. Mohd Ekhwan Toriman, Chancellor of the National University of Malaysia (UKM), who discussed innovation strategies and collaboration between higher education institutions; and Prof. Chien-Huang Lin, Dean of the Global Engagement Office and Professor of Nursing at Taipei Medical University, who explored the role of global partnerships in improving educational outcomes.
The QS President’s Dialogue in Macau has paved the way for further discussions and collaborations throughout the Summit, with university leaders ready to share insights and explore partnerships that can enhance recruitment strategies and institutional performance. The event underscores QS’ commitment to support universities in achieving their unique purpose in an increasingly complex educational environment.
About the QS Higher Ed Summit: Asia Pacific 2024
The QS Higher Ed Summit: Asia Pacific 2024 in Macau brings together global higher education leaders to discuss the critical challenges facing universities today. From employability skills to sustainability, the summit provides a platform for institutions to exchange ideas, drive innovation and expand their global impact. (*/UB PR/ Trans. Iir).
