Agenda
Pre-Conference Roundtable
Internationalized Sustainability: Climate Action when Education Mobility Resumes
29 Oct 2021: 14:00 to 17:00 (Singapore Time, GMT +8)
The COVID-19 pandemic has been a watershed moment for climate action, showing how society can adapt and change. Creating a new normal, however, has been forced through external restrictions rather than complete voluntary change. This pre-conference summit will explore how higher education can build on what they’ve learnt during the pandemic, and the incentives and policies needed to continue the momentum after the COVID-restrictions end. It will also look at how universities are tackling climate action and the incentives and policies that need to be put in place to ensure those efforts are fruitful. It will also consider how to track and measure climate action and sustainability within higher education, through measures such as quality assurance, accreditation, student feedback, and other metrics.
| 14:00-14:05 | Welcome Remarks | Anton John Crace Editor and Programme Designer QS Quacquarelli Symonds |
| 14:05-14:10 | Opening Address | Prof Chris Rudd Deputy Vice Chancellor and Head of Campus Singapore James Cook University |
| 14:10-14:30 | Introduction to SDGs and QS Stars and Rankings | Anton John Crace Editor and Programme Designer QS Quacquarelli Symonds |
| 14:30-15:10 | Session: Climate action research in higher ed | Prof Fu Linda Xiao Associate Dean of Faculty of Construction and Environment The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) |
| Elisabeth (Beth) Ann Holland Professor of the Ocean and Climate Change & Director of PaCE-SD University of the South Pacific, Fiji |
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| 15:20-16:00 | Panel: Authenticity in university climate action | Anthony McClaran Vice Chancellor St Mary’s University, United Kingdom |
| Dr Pii-Tuulia Nikula Senior Lecturer Eastern Institute of Technology |
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| 16:00-16:40 | Panel: Creating incentives for universities | Anton John Crace Editor and Programme Designer QS Quacquarelli Symonds |
| 16:40-16:55 | Closing Keynote | Prof May Tan Mullins Dean International James Cook University, Singapore |
| 16:55-17:10 | Closing Keynote 2 | Dr Sonia Massari Co-Founder, FORK Organization Roma Tre University |
| 17:10-17:15 | Closing Remarks | Anton John Crace Editor and Programme Designer QS Quacquarelli Symonds |
Tracks and Topics
Tracks and Topics
In an increasingly connected world, global challenges are too complex to be addressed within traditional disciplinary boundaries. Instead, solutions to global challenges lie at the intersections of disciplines and require a breakdown of barriers between fields where scientists and social scientists alike collaborate and tap the benefits of scientific discovery to create real-world impact. Artificial intelligence is a catalyst bringing the fields of natural and social science closer together. As artificial intelligence increasingly delves into the world of humanities, it may become to question what it means to be human. What role does higher education have in fostering the blurring of disciplines and ensure that advances in artificial intelligence are used for the good of our communities?
As one of the largest regions in the world, the Asia Pacific encompasses a wide range of attitudes and approaches to education and research. Home to roughly 60 percent of the world’s population, the Asia Pacific is also poised to become a superpower in higher ed, and there is increased interest from institutions, industry stakeholders, and community groups both internally and externally of the region to develop strong partnerships. How can an institution identify the best possible partnership? Where can higher education look? What are the best practice examples?
Although the disruptions brought about by the pandemic have yet to subside, universities around the world are gradually navigating a return to pre-pandemic routines, and realising that the student journey will never be the same. With the rapid adoption of learning technologies during the pandemic, universities are in a position to better craft a student-centric learning experience to meet the increasingly diverse needs of students. What is the value of higher education in the future? How can universities equip students with the skills needed to thrive in the fast-evolving future world of work?
Higher education in the Asia Pacific has made a giant leap forward in research and teaching outcomes. Its progress sees it continue to take centre stage for international higher education, through initiatives such as new innovation hubs, new universities, and new industry partnerships. How can the sector continue to thrive over the coming decade? Where are the opportunities and challenges? What is the next big thing for higher ed in the Asia Pacific?
COVID-19 has left students “deferred, not deterred” from pursing a global mobility experience. While travel remains largely restricted, there are new opportunities developing for universities to attract greater numbers of students, either through in-person or online. How do students view the current challenges in mobility? What are their major points of consideration, and how do they compare to those of other stakeholders such as parents and governments? Is there a shift in student expectations? How can universities foster mobility in the new normal?
