An alliance aimed at shaping the future of higher education in Asia was launched in Beijing on Saturday.

Inspired by China's Tsinghua University, the inauguration and the first summit of the Asian Universities Alliance (AUA) took place at the university campus.

Chinese Vice Premier Liu Yandong attends the inaugural meeting of the Asian Universities Alliance held at Tsinghua University in Beijing, capital of China, April 29, 2017. [Photo: Xinhua]

Chinese Vice Premier Liu Yandong attended the meeting, and stressed the significance of the alliance in deepening regional cooperation in Asia, Xinhua News Agency reports.

Purpose

The Asian Universities Alliance (AUA) is aimed at "shaping the future landscape of Asia's higher education and addressing regional and global challenges," according to Qiu Yong, President of Tsinghua University.

Future development

Associate professor Zhang Chuanjie, Deputy Director of the International Cooperation and Exchange Office of Tsinghua University, has revealed that there are four main areas for cooperation as part of the forthcoming regional education-field alliance, reports sohu.com.

Associate professor Zhang Chuanjie, Deputy Director of the International Cooperation and Exchange Office of Tsinghua University [File Photo: tsinghua.edu.cn]

- Strengthen mobility, at a students and academic level within or outside of the alliance.

- Strengthen scientific research cooperation, at a professorial level within or outside of the alliance.

- Strengthen the development of strategies and policies for higher education, at the level of university presidents within the alliance.

- Publication of an annual report on higher education in Asia, to promote the development and influence of Asia's higher education system.

The details of the four overall tasks remain to be discussed by the member universities.

Founding History

The Asian Universities Alliance (AUA) was initiated by Tsinghua University, at the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2016 held in March.

A preparatory meeting for the alliance took place at Tsinghua University from September 9 to 10, 2016, during which representatives from interested universities approved draft articles for the AUA, reaching an agreement on the alliance's purpose, organizational structure, activity arrangement, operation mode and financial operations.

Participants of the preparatory meeting for the Asian Universities Alliance (AUA) pose for a group photo at Tsinghua University in Beijing, capital of China, in September, 2016. [Photo: tsinghua.edu.cn]

On March 23, 2017, the President of Tsinghua University, Qiu Yong, spoke at the 'Future of Education' session of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2017, declaring that the Asian Universities Alliance, whose formation has been guided by Tsinghua University for the last year, would be set up on April 29, 2017.

Qiu Yong, President of Tsinghua University, speaks at the Future of Education session of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2017 in Boao, south China's Hainan province, March 23, 2017. [Photo: boaoforum.org]

Early this week, the Asian Universities Alliance Youth Innovation Workshop, the first intercollegiate students exchange program held by AUA, kicked off on April 25, 2017.

Fifty-one students from thirteen member universities attended the event, exchanging views on topics including poverty eradication, better education, environmental challenges, culture heritage and urban regeneration.

Students from thirteen member universities of the Asian Universities Alliance (AUA) attend the Asian Universities Alliance Youth Innovation Workshop which lasts from 25 to 29 April, 2017, at Tsinghua University in Beijing, capital of China. [Photo: tsinghua.edu.cn]

The participants attempted to put forward an innovative proposal on the topics during the 5-day workshop, thus making contributions to sustainable development on behalf of young Asians.

Membership

Students from thirteen member universities of the Asian Universities Alliance (AUA) attend the Asian Universities Alliance Youth Innovation Workshop which lasts from 25 to 29 April, 2017, at Tsinghua University in Beijing, capital of China. [Photo: tsinghua.edu.cn]

Fifteen prestigious universities from thirteen countries across Asia have expressed a wish to join the alliance, according to sohu.com:

- Tsinghua University, China

- Peking University, China

- Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, China

- University of Tokyo, Japan

- Seoul National University, South Korea

- National University of Singapore, Singapore

- Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, India

- University of Indonesia, Indonesia

- Chulalongkorn University, Thailand

- University of Malaya, Malaysia

- University of Colombo, Sri Lanka

- University of Yangon, Myanmar

- Nazarbayev University, Kazakhstan

- United Arab Emirates University, United Arab Emirates

- King Saud University, Saudi Arabia