Abstract:
National mobility schemes can do more than move people—they can forge durable, mission-aligned partnerships that deepen research collaboration and social impact. Drawing on the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange (NAWA) portfolio—including Polish Returns, NAWA Scholarships, and the Research in Poland platform—this session unpacks how program design, co-funding models, and shared governance convert short-term exchanges into long-term institutional networks. Using recent case studies with Asia-Pacific and Global South universities, we will analyse the catalysts (joint supervision, seed grants, sandwich PhDs) that transform individual mobility into multi-layered cooperation and scalable joint projects. Participants will leave with an adaptable framework for embedding reciprocity, equity, and sustainability into their own mobility initiatives, thus advancing the APAIE 2026 theme of “Partnerships and Mobility” and contributing to the broader SDG agenda.

Learning objectives:
– Identify design principles that turn mobility programs into sustainable, multi-institutional partnerships
– Compare co-funding and governance models that foster reciprocity and capacity building
– Evaluate practical tools (e.g., joint supervision, seed-funded projects) that scale small exchanges into strategic networks
– Draft an action checklist for integrating equity and SDG alignment into mobility schemes

Target audience:
International officers, partnership managers, mobility coordinators, government agency representatives, and strategists focused on building equitable, SDG-aligned global networks through student and staff mobility.

Abstract:
Following decades of decline and a sharp pandemic-induced drop, Japanese student enrollment in U.S. education is rebounding. This paper analyzes post-2020 recovery trends shaped by government initiatives, institutional collaborations, and shifting student preferences. Strategic efforts illustrate renewed momentum. U.S. institutions are responding with more flexible, affordable, and culturally responsive models. These developments signal the potential for a more inclusive and sustainable era of U.S.–Japan educational exchange.

Learning objectives:
– By engaging with this poster session, participants will gain a nuanced understanding of how Japanese student enrollment in U.S. education is recovering after years of decline and the sharp drop during the pandemic. They will explore the driving forces behind this rebound, including strategic government initiatives, renewed institutional partnerships, and
changing student motivations.
– The session will highlight how U.S. colleges and universities are adapting their approaches—offering more flexible, affordable, and culturally responsive models to better serve Japanese students. Through this lens, participants will consider how these innovations may signal a shift toward a more inclusive and sustainable model of U.S.–Japan educational exchange.
– Ultimately, attendees will walk away with practical strategies they can apply to strengthen their own institutional efforts in international recruitment, student support, and transnational collaboration.

Target audience:
This session will benefit international recruitment professionals, enrollment strategists, government and policy advisors, and those focused on East Asia, transnational education (TNE), and U.S.–Japan partnerships seeking to understand postpandemic mobility and student-centered engagement strategies.

Abstract:
This poster presents findings from a U.S.-based quantitative study using the High School Longitudinal Study of 2009 (HSLS:09) to examine how traditional college readiness metrics, such as high school GPA, standardized test scores, and extracurricular involvement, predict college success differently across socioeconomic groups. Multivariate regression models reveal that while high school GPA predicts first-year college GPA for all students, its predictive strength is significantly greater for high-SES students. Similarly, standardized test scores (e.g., SAT/ACT) show a positive relationship with college outcomes primarily among high-SES students, but offer limited predictive power for low-SES students.

These findings raise urgent questions for Asia-Pacific institutions, particularly those collaborating with or modeling practices after U.S. universities. As global partnerships expand, admissions and advising frameworks rooted in Western norms risk being replicated in ways that may unintentionally disadvantage non-elite or culturally diverse students. This poster invites institutions engaged in Asia-Pacific partnerships to critically examine the cultural assumptions underlying shared metrics of “readiness” and “success.” The poster also outlines institutional strategies for developing more culturally inclusive models of readiness and support. Attendees will leave with insights on applying equity-driven research to global higher education systems.

Learning objectives:
– Understand how traditional college readiness metrics (e.g., GPA, test scores, extracurriculars) reflect elite cultural norms.
– Recognize how these metrics disproportionately predict success for high-SES students and undervalue low-/middle-SES students.
– Learn how cultural mismatch can impact student well-being and engagement with campus resources.
– Explore how Asia-Pacific and global institutions may unintentionally replicate these inequities through imported admission models.
– Identify data-informed strategies to design more culturally inclusive admissions, advising, and student support systems.
– Apply insights from U.S.-based data (HSLS:09) to inform local or institutional equity efforts in diverse educational contexts.

Target audience:
Designed for attendees with some background in student support, admissions, or equity initiatives who are interested in applying data-informed and culturally responsive practices in higher education. Also, those working on global student mobility or adapting admissions models across the Asia-Pacific context.

Abstract:
As international partnerships grow in scope and complexity, administrative inefficiencies in agreement processing can delay valuable collaborations. This poster illustrates how the University of Tennessee’s Office of Global Research, Innovation, and Partnerships successfully implemented a workflow automation system to modernize its agreement review and approval process. The new system digitized routing, improved collaboration across siloed units, and significantly reduced turnaround time. It also enhanced data collection on partner type, region, and academic discipline, helping the institution align agreements with strategic priorities. The poster outlines key outcomes, lessons learned, and practical tools to guide other institutions in adopting similar systems. By showcasing real metrics and process improvements, this case study offers a scalable roadmap for operational efficiency and strategic decision-making in global engagement.

Learning objectives:
– Understand how workflow automation can streamline international agreement processes
– Learn implementation steps and common challenges for adopting automated systems
– Explore how data generated from automated workflows can support strategic global engagement

Target audience:
International office administrators, global partnership managers, and institutional operations staff interested in workflow optimization, data-driven strategy, and partnership management.