ASIC’s International Education Conference 2025 Highlights Showcase Practical Perspectives and The Power of Co-operation in Building Inclusive, Innovative, and Sustainable Education Systems

The ASIC International Education Conference 2025, co-hosted with BritCham Vietnam, took place from October 15th to 16th in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The two-day event, themed "Global Education in Transition: Innovation, Inclusion, and Sustainability for a Resilient Future," brought together a diverse group of education leaders and sector experts for high-level discussions to shape a quality-focused future for international education.

ASIC's Conferences are noted for the diversity of voices represented, and the Vietnam event was no exception. A mixture of ASIC Accredited Institutions and familiar faces were joined by delegates and speakers entirely new to ASIC, with representatives from around the world, including Indonesia, Malaysia, the United Kingdom, the United States, India, South Africa, Cyprus, Slovenia, Romania, Australia, China, and Argentina.

International Tales of the Unexpected and Uplifiting

Originally organised as a two-day conference held at Mai House Saigon hotel, the event faced the kind of logistical challenges sometimes associated with working in international contexts (outside of ASIC and BritCham’s control), necessitating a swift reconfiguration of the format.

Day One became a networking and workshop-focused gathering at Mai House, followed by a full conference programme on Day Two at the British Consulate-General. Thanks to the agility and cooperation of the ASIC team, BritCham Vietnam, and local partners in Ho Chi Minh City, the event adapted seamlessly without compromising its core purpose.

The transition was also a testament to the flexibility and collaborative spirit of all attendees and speakers.

ASIC CEO, Lee Hammond extended ASIC’s thanks for the depth of understanding and enthusiasm. “Thank you for coming together to make this event a success, and for showcasing the incredible enthusiasm and strength of our international community. The feedback so far has been fantastic, with all attendees and speakers keen to attend future events. The rejigged format has actually gone down so well, we will be revamping our events going forward to put a stronger focus on our well-received networking and problem-solving sessions.”

Delegate feedback has been equally warmhearted. "I thoroughly enjoyed the conference, especially the innovative one-on-one interactions and workshops on Day 1 that fostered meaningful connections and set a strong foundation for engagement. All topics were explored in a practical and insightful way, making it highly relevant. Thank you to ASIC and the events team for their exceptional hospitality and organization. Keep up the fantastic work!" Quang Trinh, Co-Founder, BeriS Ltd., Co., Vietnam

From unexpected turns to inspiring outcomes, "Global Education in Transition" became a truly international tale of the unexpected, and a powerful reminder of what’s possible when people come together, united in shared purpose. Thanks to the incredible spirit of everyone involved, the event maintained its momentum and the stage was set for two days of insightful dialogue, practical case studies, and creative networking sessions.

💡 Conference Highlights: Key Themes and Sessions

The agenda was packed with thought-provoking content across both days:

Day 1 focused on:

- Networking, kicking off with the ASIC EduConnect Accelerator: An innovative speed-networking activity designed to break down barriers and spark connections in both expected and unlikely places, sparking conversations to be followed up on over the next two days.

- Tailored workshop sessions on sustainable and inclusive education and quality assurance: Dialogue was led by sector experts, facilitating the opportunity for delegates to contribute their thoughts and experiences, and creating an equal and equitable space to troubleshoot real-world issues and barriers to quality education.

- A practical and creative LEGO® Serious Play® (LSP) Workshop led by EQuest Asia: Designed to break down silos and barriers to inter, cross-sector, and cultural understanding, this innovative activity delivered a lively hands-on approach to deeper problem-solving

Day 2 featured:

- Insightful keynote speeches on quality assurance and education for a sustainable future.

- Thematic sessions tackling the digital divide, AI and its use in quality assurance and ranking methodologies, global enrollment decline, collaboration for inclusive education, building impactful sector and industry partnerships, and women in educational leadership.

- Refreshments and networking, culminating in the prestigious evening Drinks and Education Awards Reception.

🎤 Day 2 Speakers and Presentations

Speakers and their session topics included:

Welcome Address: His Majesty's Deputy Consul General, Will Lawrenson

KEYNOTE: Navigating the Future of International Education Quality Assurance: Prof. Dr Olgun Cicek (CHEA-CIQG International Advisory Council Member)

KEYNOTE: Sustainability at the heart of the curriculum and the campus: Richard Dunne (The Harmony Project)

AI & Assurance: The Future of Quality in Higher Education: Prof. Dr Hardik Vachharajani (Symbiosis University)

Where Have All the Students Gone? Addressing Global Enrolment Decline: Dr Walter Swaim (Louisiana Baptist University and Theological Seminary)

Women in Educational Leadership: Strong schools need strong leaders!: Nicola Rylett-Jones (ABE)

Digital Divide - Unpacking the Illusion of Equity in K-12 EdTech: Claire Kerrison (Futuresource Consulting)

Rethinking Universities: Between Cultural Diplomacy and Entrepreneur: Andrei Lăcraru (National University of Theatre and Film "I.L. Caragiale")

Empowering Inclusive Education & Employability via the ADC: Anh Ho (Andy) (RMIT University Vietnam)

🏆 A Night of Celebration: The ASIC International Education Awards 2025

The event wrapped up with the conference-exclusive Networking and Awards Drinks Reception, also held at the British Consulate-General later in the evening. Delegates came together for an evening of connection, honouring the values of international cooperation and partnership and celebrating exceptional achievements aligned with the values of quality assurance, innovation, and global engagement. Congratulations to the inspiring winners in their areas of impact:

- Outstanding Student Support and Engagement Award Winner: Prime One School, Indonesia

- Innovative Use of Technology in Education Award Winner: Zarqa University, Jordan

- Commitment to Sustainability and Social Responsibility Award Winner: University of the Commonwealth Caribbean, Jamaica

- Outstanding Contribution to Community Development Award Winner: Al Qasimia University, United Arab Emirates

- Institutional Leadership in Diversity and Inclusion Award Winner: New Zealand School Jakarta, Indonesia

- Education Hero Award Winner: Anh Ho (Andy), RMIT University Vietnam

- Excellence in Accreditation Award Winner: Christian Family Church Bible College, South Africa

“Global Education in Transition concluded in testament to ASIC’s vision of a quality-focused future, strengthened by the drive and commitment of a passionate international community of education leaders and experts,” said Lee Hammond. “The experience has left us all with a renewed sense of purpose and also a wealth of insights and connections to follow up on and inform our activities over the next year. Thank you to all for contributing to such a fantastic and impactful event.”

👐 Explore More and Stay Connected

For those looking to revisit the experience or explore it further, a range of post-event resources are available:
📷 View the Conference Gallery
🚀 Dive into the key takeaways from the expert presentations
🌏 Join ASIC’s International Education Community on LinkedIn
📰 Sign up for the ASIC Newsletter to get news and event updates first

All attendees will receive the slides from all presentations delivered on the second day, and a UK-Certified CPD Certificate of Attendance. Please allow our events staff the time to deliver these to you over the coming weeks. (Certificates will be issued automatically to delegates approximately six weeks from the end of the event.)