A delegation from Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta (UNY) participated in the Asian Academic Society for Vocational Education and Training (AASVET) 2025 and the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) Higher Education Summit: Asia Pacific 2025, held at Korea University in Korea from 2–8 November 2025.

The forum carried the theme “Advancing Generational Potential: Skills and Partnerships in the Asia Pacific” and served as an international collaboration platform for higher education leaders and academics from around the world.

The UNY delegation was led by Prof. Soni Nopembri, Chair of the UNY Ranking Team. Also present were Prof. Mochamad Bruri Triyono, Prof. Anita Triastuti, and Dr. Isti Yunita—all members of the QS Ranking team at UNY. They attended to strengthen academic networks, update on QS ranking methodologies, and explore best practices from leading international universities.

At the forum, UNY participated in sessions including the Plenary and Leadership Dialogue, which focused on the transformation of higher education in the Asia-Pacific region toward ‘future-ready’ universities. Universities such as the National University of Singapore (NUS), Kyoto University, and University of Melbourne presented innovative strategies in digital learning and cross-disciplinary innovation.

According to Prof. Soni Nopembri, the experience provided important insights for UNY to strengthen its integration of vocational skills, digital technology, and character education, in line with its vision of becoming a world-class university. “UNY can draw inspiration from these global practices to develop an AI-based learning system and immersive learning environment that remain centered on human values,” he said.

In the Leadership Dialogue, UNY noted adaptive leadership practices from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University and the Chulalongkorn University, which are relevant to UNY’s development of a Technopreneurial Leadership Framework. The forum also emphasized the importance of sustainability integration in university governance, with case studies from the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia and the RMIT University on implementing green campuses and inclusive learning policies.

The UNY delegation also took part in a QS Ranking Workshop which provided updates to indicators such as Employment Outcomes, International Research Network, and Social Impact. This information will form the basis of UNY’s strategy to improve its global reputation, especially in research, international collaboration, and institutional sustainability.

During the event, UNY engaged in strategic academic discussions with Seoul National University about potential joint research in AI and biomedical devices, opportunities for double-degree programs and student mobility, and the development of a Vocational Teacher Training Program. The collaboration also opened possibilities for the MEXT Scholarship and faculty visiting scholar exchanges.

From the forum and workshop outcomes, UNY formulated several strategic steps, including integrating sustainability indicators into UNY’s 2026-2030 Strategic Plan, forming a QS Task Force across units (KUI, LPPM, Planning Bureau, faculties), and optimizing an intelligence data system to support QS Ranking submissions.

UNY’s participation in AASVET and the QS Summit not only enhanced the university’s international reputation but also affirmed its commitment to the SDG 4 – Quality Education, SDG 9 – Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, and SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals.

The presence of UNY in this prestigious international forum is a tangible sign of the university’s role as an education diplomacy ambassador for Indonesia, bringing the spirit of innovation, sustainability, and cross-national collaboration.