From February 23 to 27, 2026, a delegation from Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and Engineering (HCM-UTE), formerly known as Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and Education, attended the Asia-Pacific Association for International Education (APAIE) 2026 Conference and Exhibition held in Hong Kong (China). This year’s event attracted approximately 3,000 delegates representing more than 500 universities and educational institutions from 70 countries and territories, reaffirming its status as one of the largest and most prestigious international education forums in the region.
The HCM-UTE delegation included Mr. Pham Bach Duong, M.A., Head of the Office of International Affairs and Director of the Institute of International Education, and Assoc. Prof. Pham Huy Tuan, Vice Director of the Institute of International Education. The delegation actively engaged in networking and partnership-building activities with global partners.
Representatives of HCM-UTE and Ms. Nguyen Thu Thuy – Director General of the Department of International Cooperation, Ministry of Education and Training
APAIE is a leading annual forum on international higher education in the Asia–Pacific region. In 2026, the conference reached a record scale, serving not only as a platform for discussing advanced university governance trends but also as a strategic networking space to promote academic cooperation, scientific research collaboration, and global academic exchange.
The 2026 Asia–Pacific Association for International Education (APAIE) Conference
A notable highlight of APAIE 2026 was the strong presence of Vietnamese education. For the first time, under the leadership of the Ministry of Education and Training (MOET), a delegation of 17 leading Vietnamese universities and educational organizations officially launched the Vietnam Pavilion. HCM-UTE’s participation in the national pavilion contributed to promoting the image of Vietnamese education internationally while affirming the university’s academic capacity and position in the context of global integration.
Vietnamese delegates at the Conference
Throughout the conference, leaders of the Institute of International Education and the Office of International Relations participated in specialized discussion sessions and conducted bilateral meetings with strategic partners. Discussions focused on developing international joint training programs, enhancing student and faculty exchange, and expanding multinational research collaboration. These activities aimed to showcase HCM-UTE’s academic strengths while identifying practical cooperation opportunities that generate long-term benefits for both learners and faculty members.
HCM-UTE’s presence at APAIE 2026 demonstrates the university’s commitment to a comprehensive internationalisation strategy, aligned with Vietnam’s broader policy of deep integration into the global education landscape. As emphasized by Ms. Nguyen Thu Thuy, Director General of the Department of International Cooperation under MOET, “Vietnam is determined to integrate deeply into the global education space.”
The participation in APAIE 2026 is expected to open up expanded opportunities for internationally standardized learning programs, exchange initiatives, and valuable scholarship opportunities, thereby enhancing training quality, research capacity, and progressively strengthening HCM-UTE’s position on the regional and global higher education map.