The ASEAN University Network (AUN) Secretariat has strengthened ties with Australian higher education through a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Universities Australia (UA). Signed during the Australian International Education Conference 2025 in Canberra, the agreement establishes a platform for academic collaboration, research partnerships, institutional cooperation, and mobility programmes across the region.

The MOU was formalised by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Thanapan Laiprakobsup, AUN Executive Director, and Mr. Luke Sheehy, Chief Executive of UA, in the presence of key stakeholders including the ASEAN Australia Centre, Department of Foreign Affairs, International Education and Study NSW, and Times Higher Education. It supports both the ASEAN-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and Australia’s Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040, prioritising enhanced education and innovation linkages.

This collaboration aligns with AUN’s focus on quality assurance and higher education excellence, offering a framework for knowledge exchange, policy dialogue, and joint initiatives that advance the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 4: Quality Education and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals. By connecting ASEAN and Australian institutions, the partnership aims to foster academic leadership, innovation, and transnational education while enhancing resilience and future competencies across the region.

Supported by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the agreement positions both networks to deliver tangible benefits for students, researchers, and institutions, creating more inclusive opportunities and strengthening regional collaboration in higher education.

The AUN-UA MOU marks a defining step in the AUN Secretariat’s 2025 Australia mission and sets the stage for broader, long-term cooperation under the ASEAN-Australia framework.

Read the full story to discover how this partnership will reshape regional academic collaboration.