Association of Arab Universities Participates in the QS Higher Education Summit: Asia Pacific 2026 in Indonesia

The Executive Director of the Association of Arab Universities (AARU), Professor Anas Rateb Al-Soud, participated in the QS Higher Education Summit: Asia Pacific 2026, held in Bali, Indonesia, from 3 to 5 November 2026, with the participation of a distinguished group of academic leaders, policymakers, and representatives of universities and higher education institutions from around the world.

Professor Al-Soud took part in a panel discussion entitled “What Makes a University Globally Competitive Today?”, during which he highlighted the current state of Arab higher education and its future directions. He emphasized the importance of balancing global competitiveness with national priorities, and the need to use international rankings as tools for improving institutional performance rather than ends in themselves.

On the sidelines of the summit, Professor Al-Soud held a series of meetings with representatives of international universities and educational institutions. The discussions focused on opportunities to strengthen academic and research cooperation, expand international partnerships, and open new horizons for Arab universities to benefit from global experiences and expertise.

Professor Al-Soud also met with QS Chief Executive Officer Jessica Turner and Dr. Ashwin Fernandes, Vice President of Partnerships and International Engagement, where they discussed ways to strengthen cooperation and support the international presence and competitiveness of Arab universities.

This participation comes as part of the Association of Arab Universities’ ongoing efforts to strengthen the integration of Arab universities into the global higher education landscape, expand their international partnership networks, and reinforce their presence at major international academic forums.