AUAP’s 30th anniversary: AIUB celebrates three decades of academic fellowship
AIUB's presence at the 37th AUAP Annual Conference was a testament to the enduring power of academic camaraderie and vision. The Association of Universities of Asia and the Pacific (AUAP) marked a trilogy of milestones during its Joint Events this year — the 9th AUAP Forum and Networking themed "Global Networks: Paving the Way for Innovative, Diverse, and Sustainable Academic Landscapes in Asia and the Pacific," the 36th Annual Conference on "Advancing Excellence for Global Sustainability by Aligning Institutions to World Rankings and Ratings," and the grand "30th Anniversary Celebration of AUAP." Hosted across 12 venerable institutions from the Philippines and Thailand, the gathering unfolded from 21 to 23 May 2025 at the Chardonnay by Astoria, Pasig City, Manila, welcoming 170 scholars and leaders representing 49 institutions from 15 nations spanning Asia, Europe, Australia, and North America.
AIUB, a steadfast member of AUAP since 2003, engaged with zeal and insight, participating actively in keynote addresses, panel discussions, and scholarly paper presentations. Dr. Carmen Z. Lamagna — a revered figure as AIUB's former Vice Chancellor (1997–2023), Member of the Board of Trustees, AUAP Advisory Council member (2020–2024), and former AUAP President (2008–2010) — graced the 55th AUAP Executive Board Meeting, contributing her profound wisdom alongside global counterparts.
On the celebratory day of the 30th AUAP Anniversary, Dr. Lamagna's reflections echoed the association's transformative influence on higher education worldwide. She recalled her dedicated efforts as AUAP President to nurture international partnerships, emphasising their pivotal role in advancing academic collaboration across Asia and the Pacific.
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Guided by Ms. Carlin Noelle Zita Lamagna, Deputy Director for the Office of Planning and Development and Senior Assistant Professor in the Department of Economics, Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences, AIUB forged a vibrant path forward. Sixteen new partnerships were cultivated, alongside the renewal of two longstanding alliances. These Memorandum of Understanding promise a future rich with shared innovation, collaborative research, and progressive programme development.
Moreover, a dozen additional fruitful collaborations were explored, destined to be formalised through upcoming virtual ceremonies with partner universities, affirming AIUB's commitment to collective academic excellence.
This confluence of tradition and forward-thinking at the AUAP Annual Conference heralds a bright horizon, where knowledge knows no borders, and higher education flourishes through united vision and enduring bonds.
