The College of Education, National Chengchi University (NCCU) successfully hosted the Joint Symposium on “Innovative Paths to Quality Higher Education in Asia – Reform, Risks, and Reinventions for a Sustainable Future” on October 17, 2025, at Jing Tang Building, NCCU. This high-level academic event was a collaborative initiative among three leading institutions, National Chengchi University, Lingnan University/The Hang Seng University of Hong Kong, and the Higher Education Evaluation & Accreditation Council of Taiwan (HEEACT), bringing Asian top scholars from South Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, to explore innovative pathways and sustainable reforms in higher education.
The symposium opened with welcoming remarks by Professor Joy Hu, Associate Dean of the College of Education at National Chengchi University (NCCU), and Professor Ka Ho Mok Vice President, Lingnan University/The Hang Seng University of Hong Kong. A major highlight of the event was the launch of the Springer English monograph titled Innovative Paths to Quality Higher Education in Asia- Reform, Risks, and Reinventions for a Sustainable Future, co-published by the College of Education at NCCU and the Higher Education Evaluation & Accreditation Council of Taiwan (HEEACT). The book, co-edited by Professor Angela Yung Chi Hou from NCCU, Professor Jung Cheol Shin from Seoul National University, and Professor Bjørn Stensaker from the University of Oslo, features contributions from 32 leading scholars representing 19 universities.
The one-day symposium comprised three thematic sessions. Session 1: System Reform and Quality Standards under Emerging Regulatory Frameworks explored how quality assurance mechanisms, governance reforms, and the experiences of African students in Asian universities respond to the challenges of massification and global competitiveness in higher education. Session 2 focused on student engagement, the research capacity of international branch campuses in China, and the Chinese learning experience at a university in Singapore. Session 3 examined the transformative impact of generative AI, sustainability, and digital innovation on higher education.
The symposium concluded with closing remarks by Prof. Ka Ho Mok, Dr. Kai Zhao and Prof. Angela Yung Chi Hou, who emphasized the importance of sustained academic collaboration and shared vision among Asian higher education leaders. Together, they reaffirmed the collective commitment to advancing innovation, inclusiveness, and quality assurance in the region. The joint symposium exemplified how collective wisdom and collaboration can illuminate new pathways toward a more innovative, equitable, and sustainable future for higher education across Asia and beyond.
