Pauline HO

Abstract: Engineering education increasingly emphasizes humanitarian design—creating solutions that address global challenges while serving human needs. Delivering quality engineering education at scale requires strategic partnerships between universities across regions, enabling student and faculty mobility while maintaining academic standards. As institutions expand international partnerships through transnational education models, ensuring quality becomes more complex, particularly as artificial intelligence transforms program delivery, assessment, and accreditation. This panel examines how universities can establish and sustain effective engineering partnerships while maintaining rigorous quality assurance. With focus on transnational education models and regional intra-Asia mobility, panelists from Southeast Asia, North America, and Indonesia will share approaches to structuring partnerships that facilitate meaningful mobility and exchange while preserving quality. Panelists will explore how humanitarian design principles guide partnership objectives, how quality assurance mechanisms adapt to hybrid and virtual delivery in transnational contexts, and how AI can support quality oversight. The discussion addresses practical strategies for managing multi-institutional partnerships, student learning outcomes assessment, accreditation considerations for TNE delivery, regional mobility frameworks, and ensuring that engineering education serves both workforce needs and social responsibility. Learning objectives: Examine current approaches to structuring transnational education models and engineering partnerships that facilitate regional intra-Asia mobility while maintaining quality assurance Understand how humanitarian design principles inform partnership objectives and guide institutional collaboration in transnational engineering education Explore practical quality assurance mechanisms for transnational education delivery, including assessment strategies for hybrid and virtual delivery in regional partnerships Discover how institutions across Asia-Pacific and North America are implementing TNE partnerships and regional mobility frameworks that advance engineering excellence and social responsibility Identify strategies for establishing effective intra-Asia regional mobility pathways and leveraging technology and AI to enhance quality oversight across TNE partnerships without compromising institutional autonomy. Target audience: Transnational education leaders, international education directors, engineering program deans and faculty, and STEM professionals seeking to establish quality-assured transnational engineering partnerships and regional mobility frameworks across Asia-Pacific institutions.

Abstract: The Asia-Pacific region stands at a pivotal moment in higher education mobility. While global learning opportunities increasingly shape university choice, student demand across the region continues to favour Western destinations. Intra- ASEAN mobility remains underutilised, which accounts for only around 10% of regional flows, despite strong economic growth and rich opportunities for contextual, interdisciplinary learning. Beyond Asia, many international partners have yet to fully recognise ASEAN as a compelling study destination. Representing HKUST, NTU Singapore, and VinUniversity (Vietnam), this panel explores how institutions can leverage AIenabled recruitment to unlock this untapped potential. We examine how data-driven personalisation, predictive analytics, and AI-powered engagement can reshape recruitment narratives, thus, positioning ASEAN study abroad not as a secondary option, but as a distinct, high-impact pathway offering exposure to emerging markets, cultural diversity, and sustainability challenges. Practical strategies will include targeted partner engagement, academic course mapping, and refreshed student outreach. Importantly, we consider how AI can amplify, rather than replace the human dimension of counselling, aligning with APAIE 2027’s theme of “Humanity in the AI Age.” We also discuss how technology can broaden access, advancing SDG 4 and SDG 10. Strengthening regional mobility is both a strategic imperative and an underleveraged global opportunity. Learning objectives: On completion of this roundtable, participants will be able to: Evaluate AI-enabled recruitment tools and strategies applicable to their institutional context, including predictive analytics, chatbots, and AI-driven CRM platforms, understanding their benefits and limitations for regional student recruitment. Articulate a compelling value proposition for intra-ASEAN and Asia-Pacific study destinations, addressing common perceptions and leveraging data to demonstrate regional mobility as a high-impact educational pathway. Design cross-institutional frameworks that enable partner universities worldwide to integrate ASEAN study pathways into their global mobility portfolios, including academic mapping, credit transfer, and co-curricular alignment. Develop strategies to engage non-ASEAN partners in promoting regional mobility, positioning ASEAN expertise as a distinctive asset for students pursuing careers in Asia's rapidly growing markets. Target audience: Global student mobility partnerships, AI innovation and collaboration, AI policies and practices for high education, global strategic partnerships, international agreements, Transnational Education (TNE), global learning, International relations, global engagement, the SDGs, and Internationalization of Higher Education.