The Asia-Pacific Association for International Education (APAIE) Conference and Exhibition 2024, held from March 4th to 8th at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Center (PCEC) in Perth, Australia, witnessed the active participation of Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta (UNY). This annual event serves as a platform to promote and connect various higher education institutions. Over the years, APAIE has remained steadfast in its mission to unify international educators.

Led by Prof. Dr. Mochamad Bruri Triyono, M.Pd., the Head of UNY's International Office (IO), the UNY delegates who consisted of Prof. Dr. Lantip Diat Prasojo, M.Pd., the Vice Rector for Planning and Finance, Prof. Nur Hidayanto Pancoro Setyo Putro, M.Pd., Ph.D., the Dean of Faculty of Languages, Arts and Culture, Nur Azizah, M.Ed., Ph.D., Dewi Eka Murniati, M.M., Ph.D., and Sugiyanto, S.E., M.Sc., seized the opportunity to engage face-to-face with numerous partners. They explored potential collaborations with partners from Asia, America, Europe, and Australia.

Beyond the exhibition, APAIE featured educational workshops with speakers from various universities. Approximately 1,800 figures from universities, faculty members, and educational professionals from around the world attended the event.

Despite having established partnerships with many other institutions, UNY viewed this direct meeting as an opportunity to discuss alternative options for initiating various academic collaborations such as visiting professors, joint research and publication, student mobility programs, and short courses. The discussion and communication resulted in a number of agreements for hosting visiting professor programs.

These discussions are crucial for UNY's ongoing efforts to enhance its global presence and provide enriching opportunities for its students and faculties. Collaborations forged during such events as APAIE not only enrich academic programs but also foster cultural exchange and mutual understanding.

As UNY continues to embrace internationalization, participation in events like APAIE reinforces its commitment to fostering global partnerships and promoting cross-cultural learning experiences. With each interaction, UNY moves closer to its vision of becoming a leading institution in international education and research. (International Office of UNY)