A closer look at the expert-led presentations from the ASIC International Education Conference 2025 in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

Following the summary of the ASIC International Education Conference 2025, take a deeper dive into the key thematic sessions, delivered on Day Two, that provided actionable insights and set the agenda for further collaboration towards a quality-focused future for international education.

📊 Quality Assurance and the AI Evolution

Dr Olgun Cicek – Trends in Global Quality Assurance

Quote: “New forms of accreditation are not just digital—they're transformational."

Institution/Organisation: CHEA-CIQG International Advisory Council
Country: Cyprus
Presentation: KEYNOTE: Navigating the Future of International Education Quality Assurance

Summary: Dr Cicek explored the evolving landscape of quality assurance and international higher education, focusing on:
- Emerging trends in Transnational Education (TNE) and the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on quality assurance.
- The rise of digital and outcome-based accreditation, including the rise of microcredential accreditation.

Call to Action: The importance of regional and global networks in shaping higher education and quality standards.

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Dr Hardik Vachharajani – AI and Assurance: The Future of Quality in Higher Education

Quote: “AI is not a threat to accreditation; it is the evolution of assurance.”

Institution/Organisation: Symbiosis University
Country: India
Presentation: AI & Assurance: The Future of Quality in Higher Education

Summary: Dr Vachharajani's presentation offered a deep dive into how AI is transforming accreditation:
- Challenges of traditional accreditation: manual, inconsistent, and reactive processes.
- AI’s potential: enabling real-time, scalable, and objective quality assurance.
- Human oversight remains vital: inspectors validate AI-generated data and ensure ethical governance.
Case studies:
- NAAC (India): AI-driven accreditation with digital verification and machine learning.
- Times Higher Education (THE): AI used to validate over 270,000 documents annually.
- QS Rankings: AI-powered analytics for student recruitment and institutional strategy.

Call to Action: Agencies must evolve into ethical guardians and collaborators, embracing hybrid models that combine AI efficiency with human judgment.

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📉 Addressing Global Challenges and Equity

Dr Walter Swaim – Student Recruitment in Crisis

Quote: “The enrollment crisis is a call to action—not just to adapt, but to transform.”

Institution/Organisation: Louisiana Baptist University and Theological Seminary
Country: U.S.A.
Presentation: Where Have All the Students Gone? Addressing Global Enrolment Decline

Summary: Dr Swaim tackled the global crisis of declining student enrolment:
Enrollment cliff is real: U.S. college enrollment dropped 15% (2010–2021); similar trends in Canada, UK, South Korea, Japan, and Australia.
Consequences: Economic slowdown, reduced social mobility, mental health challenges, and diminished civic engagement.
Causes: Demographic shifts, rising costs, skepticism about degree value, and competition from vocational and online alternatives.
Solutions:
- Flexible learning pathways and lifelong learning.
- Affordable education and increased aid.
- Public-private partnerships and accreditation reform.
- Family-friendly policies and fertility support to address demographic decline.

Call to Action: Reimagine education to serve students, societies, and global progress—not just preserve institutions.

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Claire Kerrison – The Reality of EdTech Adoption in K–12

Quote: "K–12 education is at a critical juncture—investment across the IT ecosystem is required to maintain the momentum."

Institution/Organisation: Futuresource Consulting
Country: U.K.
Presentation: Digital Divide - Unpacking the Illusion of Equity in K-12 EdTech

Summary: Claire presented a data-driven analysis of global EdTech trends in K–12 education:
- Digital Divide: Despite 1.4 billion students enrolled globally, 70% of 10-year-olds are in “learning poverty.” Huge Infrastructure Gaps exist with many classrooms lacking basic digital tools like interactive displays, reliable internet, and teacher training.
- Trends and Gaps:
- BYOD (Bring-Your-Own-Device) adoption is growing, with managed deployment models proving most successful. BYOD penetration is forecast to grow steadily through 2029.
- AI in Education 76% of teachers use AI tools, mainly for lesson planning and content creation. 45% report saving over an hour per week thanks to AI. However, 0 hours of AI training is the norm in many countries.
- Teacher Training Crisis: 33–48% of teachers have received no training on classroom or admin software. 23% of trained teachers feel their training was insufficient.

Call to Action:
- Centralised government support and funding.
- Clear frameworks for AI and EdTech integration.
- Peer collaboration and emotional support for students.

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Andrei Lăcraru – Academic Disruption: Listen, Identify, Influence

Quote: "You cannot antagonise and influence at the same time."

Institution/Organisation: National University of Theatre and Film "I.L. Caragiale"
Country: Romania
Presentation: Rethinking Universities: Between Cultural Diplomacy and Entrepreneur

Summary: Andrei Lacraru’s presentation offered a strategic framework for institutions to become active social actors through better listening and engagement:
- Listening Spectrum: Institutions engage at varying levels—from passive background listening to tactical and dialogic listening that builds long-term relationships.
- Triple Helix Model: Collaboration between universities, government, and society is key to innovation and influence.
- Case Study: The National University of Theatre and Film used active listening to influence national curriculum changes, integrating theatre education into secondary education.

Call to Action: Institutions must listen actively, map their environment, and enact strategies that influence policy and societal outcomes.
- Proximity: How close institutions are to their communities.
- Openness: Willingness to receive and act on feedback.
- Obscurity: How visible or accessible institutions are.

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🌿 Inclusion, Sustainability, and Leadership

Richard Dunne – Embedding Sustainability in the Curriculum

Quote: “Harmony Principles. Sustainable Practices. Everything in harmony is everything in balance."

Institution/Organisation: The Harmony Project
Country: U.K.
Presentation: KEYNOTE: Sustainability at the heart of the curriculum and the campus

Summary: Richard Dunne’s talk showcased how sustainability can be embedded in education:
- Urgency: Climate change, biodiversity loss, mental health crises, and conflict demand a new educational approach.
- The Harmony Project: Inspired by King Charles III’s book Harmony, it promotes learning rooted in nature’s principles—interdependence, cycles, diversity, adaptation, health, and oneness.
- Curriculum integration:
- Impact on improved academic outcomes, deeper student engagement, and stronger community ties.
- Real-world projects like energy monitoring, food growing, and biodiversity conservation.
- Interdisciplinary learning connecting science, geography, art, and wellbeing.

Call to Action: Schools as beacons of sustainability, preparing students to lead in a changing world.

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Anh Ho (Andy) – Inclusive Education for Inclusive Employability

Quote: “ADC is not just a competition—it’s a movement for inclusive workplaces. Melvin Fernando”

Institution/Organisation: RMIT University Vietnam
Country: Vietnam
Presentation: Empowering Inclusive Education & Employability via the Accessibility Design Competition

Summary: Andy Ho’s presentation centred on inclusive education and employability through the Accessibility Design Competition (ADC) initiative run with her team at RMIT University Vietnam, Founded and led by Melvin Fernando.
- ADC’s mission: Empower students to design inclusive workplace solutions through a multi-round competition.
- Global and local context: Millions of children with disabilities lack access to education; Vietnam is making strides, but challenges remain.
- Competition format: Teams of students and industry partners develop prototypes addressing employment barriers for people with disabilities.

Impact and Focus Areas:
- Enhances technical and soft skills, promotes innovation, and fosters inclusive employment practices.
- Attitudinal and communication strategies
- Technological innovations (e.g., AI for accessibility)
- Architectural and industrial design

Call to Action: Cross-sector partnerships and meaningful collaboration between education institutions are crucial to lasting, real-world progress for an inclusive future.

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Nicola Rylett-Jones – Educational Leadership and Governance: Strong Women, Strong Schools

Quote: "Change isn’t about appointments or quotas—it’s about giving every talented woman the platform, the voice, the support to forge the next era of the region’s education."

Institution/Organisation: ABE
Country: ASEAN Region
Presentation: Women in Educational Leadership: Strong schools need strong leaders!

Summary: Nicola Rylett-Jones addressed the leadership gap and empowering women in education leadership:
- Context: ASEAN and Vietnam’s education strategies emphasise inclusion and modernisation, with work from organisations like ABE and ASIC supporting quality and equity.
- Leadership gap: Despite women comprising the majority of teachers, they are underrepresented in leadership roles. Barriers include cultural norms, emotional isolation, and lack of access to development opportunities.
- Government targets: Vietnam aims for 40% female leadership in state agencies by 2025, 60% by 2030.
- Enablers: Mentorship and peer networks. | Flexible work policies and male allyship. | Visibility and recognition of female role models.

Call to Action:
- Policymakers: Set benchmarks and track progress.
- Institutions: Embed inclusive policies and leadership development.
- Women and allies: Advocate, mentor, and celebrate success.

👐 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
🌏 Join ASIC’s International Education Community on LinkedIn
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