17-19 October 2025 – Tsinghua SEA, Bali
The Tsinghua Higher Education Forum 2025 took place in Bali, gathering distinguished academics, education experts, and university leaders from around the world to discuss strategic issues shaping the global higher education landscape. Over the course of three days, this prestigious forum served as a collaborative platform for knowledge exchange, innovation, and international partnership.
Day One: Laying the Foundation for Future Directions
The forum opened with a report from the School of Education, highlighting key achievements and outlining development goals within the framework of the “15th Five-Year Plan.” A thematic discussion followed, during which participants analyzed the plan and proposed initial ideas for the format and overarching themes of the 2026 forum. This session laid the groundwork for the in-depth conversations that would unfold in the days ahead.
Day Two: Global Perspectives and In-Depth Dialogue
The second day of the forum brought an even more dynamic exchange of ideas with the participation of leading figures in global higher education. Three keynote speeches were delivered by Cheng Kai Ming, William Kirby, and Wen Wen, each exploring crucial topics such as higher education as a global public good, responses to shifting geopolitical realities, and opportunities for internationalization.
In the afternoon, six parallel panel sessions delved into pressing themes, including equity in knowledge systems, the transnationalization of higher education, and Asia’s growing role in the global academic landscape. The day concluded with an interactive dialogue session, offering cross-national perspectives and enriching the collective understanding of higher education’s evolving trajectory.
Day Three: Youth Voices and Global Reflections
The final day featured keynote speeches by Simon Marginson and Maia Chankseliani, who examined the internationalization of higher education in a multipolar world and reflected on the meaning of student mobility.
The agenda continued with a vibrant Youth Forum, providing a platform for young participants to share innovative ideas and fresh insights on cross-cultural exchange. The forum concluded with parallel reports, a best poster award, and official closing remarks that summarized the forum’s key outcomes and shared commitments.
Through its spirit of collaboration and forward-looking dialogue, the Tsinghua Higher Education Forum 2025 in Bali stands as a milestone for strengthening global academic partnerships and shaping new directions for higher education in an ever-changing world.