Abstract
As higher education institutions respond to the AI revolution, international partnerships must move beyond transactional mobility towards shared educational purpose and sustained collaboration. This session explores how institutions, particularly within the Asia-Pacific region, can develop experiential and interdisciplinary learning partnerships that are reciprocal, academically meaningful, scalable and impact-oriented. Focusing on experiential and interdisciplinary learning as a response to emphasising humanity in the AI era, this session presents five key strategies: (1) building partnerships around shared purpose; (2) co-creating reciprocal global learning experiences; (3) deepening collaboration beyond mobility; (4) ensuring sustainability through shared value and governance; and (5) demonstrating impact through evidence and stories. Drawing on examples from Singapore University of Social Sciences and partner institutions, this session illustrates how these strategies can create human-centred global learning ecosystems in which students, faculty, institutions and communities learn collaboratively across boundaries. This session contributes to the conference theme by demonstrating how higher education can navigate today’s AI era while keeping reciprocity, ethical engagement and human connection at the heart of internationalisation.
Learning objectives
- Identify key drivers for developing international partnerships grounded in shared interests in experiential and interdisciplinary education.
- Explain strategies for designing reciprocal global learning experiences that connect student mobility, curriculum, community engagement, and real-world challenges.
- Apply governance, sustainability, and impact considerations to strengthen long-term cross-institutional partnerships.
Target audience
Academics and professional staff in higher education, international office officers, curriculum strategists, and professionals responsible for developing cross-disciplinary/global programs or partnerships across Asia-Pacific institutions.
