International Conference on Higher Education Leadership and Management at SEAMEO RETRAC

As global education continues to evolve rapidly, driven by advancements in information technology and artificial intelligence (AI), universities and colleges must continuously refine their leadership and management strategies, integrate technology, and adapt curricula to meet the changing needs of society and learners. To enhance educational leadership quality, SEAMEO RETRAC, in collaboration with the British Columbia Council for International Education (BCCIE), the Canadian Bureau for International Education (CBIE), and Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan), hosted the 2024 Annual International Conference on “Leadership and Management in Higher Education: Innovations and Strategies in a Global Context.” Taking place on October 15-16, 2024, the conference brought together over 100 presenters and participants who are leaders, administrators, researchers, practitioners, and experts in the field to explore innovative strategies, share best practices, and discuss methods to optimize leadership effectiveness in higher education institutions.

The conference received support from the Deputy Secretary of the Policy and Research Division – Malaysia’s Ministry of Higher Education, SEAMEO Secretariat, SEAMEO INNOTECH, SEAMEO RECSAM, and diplomatic corps in HCMC, included the Consulate General of Canada, the People’s Republic of China, and Malaysia.

Datuk Dr. Habibah Abdul Rahim, Director of the SEAMEO Secretariat

“By sharing best practices and leveraging our collective intelligence, we can create a more resilient and responsive higher education system. We need leaders who can anticipate change, foster agility within their institutions, and champion a culture of continuous learning,” Datuk Dr. Habibah Abdul Rahim, Director of the SEAMEO Secretariat

Ms. Le Thi Thuy Duong, SEAMEO RETRAC’s Director and Mr. Nguyen Tan Hung, Deputy Director, poses with Datuk Dr. Habibah Abdul Rahim, Director of the SEAMEO Secretariat; Mrs. Suraya Hani binti Saleh, Deputy Secretary of the Policy and Research Division, Ministry of Higher Education; Ms. Anie Dubé, Consul General of Canada in HCMC; Ms. Wang Xinran, Consul at the Consulate General of P.R. China in HCMC; alongside with keynote speakers and representatives from BCCIE, CBIE, and CICan.

Keynote speakers included Dr. David Ross, President and CEO of SAIT, who discussed the importance of post-secondary institutions partnering with industry to better align academic programs with labor market needs. Dr. Deborah Saucier, President and Vice-Chancellor of Vancouver Island University, explored the impacts of recent changes to international student regulations in Canada, focusing on how universities are adapting to attract and support a diverse international student body.

Discussions centered on six crucial sub-themes, including leadership and entrepreneurship, quality assurance and accreditation, professional development, research and innovation, the integration of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies, and industry-university partnerships for sustainable development.