Recently, Professor Liu Jian from Tsinghua University has been appointed Secretary of the Asian Universities Alliance (AUA).

Liu received her Bachelor degree in Architecture, and Master’s and Doctorate degrees in Urban Planning and Design from Tsinghua University, where she is a tenured full professor at the School of Architecture. Liu served as Associate Dean of the School of Architecture from 2013 to early 2024, contributing significantly to enhancing the international impact and reputation of the school.

Proposed by Tsinghua University and founded in Beijing in April 2017, AUA currently consists of 16 institutions of higher education from 15 countries and regions across Asia. The first two terms of AUA Presidency (2017-2020, 2020-2023) were held by Tsinghua University, which is also the permanent host of the AUA Secretariat. According to the AUA Constitution, the AUA Secretary is appointed by Tsinghua University after consultation with the member university that holds the AUA Presidency.

Over the past seven years, by promoting comprehensive high-level exchanges and cooperation, AUA has matured into a highly cohesive and influential international university consortium. The Alliance has organized more than a hundred and fifty events and activities, such as president forums, academic conferences, student mobility programs, and university administrative meetings. In particular, a number of initiatives—including the AUA Scholars Award Program, AUA Staff Exchange Program, inter-library loans, Online Education Network, and Innovation and Entrepreneurship Network—have strengthened long-term multilateral cooperation.

This year, AUA has organized almost thirty events and activities, including a few hosted by Tsinghua University. The School of Environment successfully held an AUA Postgraduate Academic Forum, the Online Education Network initiated by the Online Education Center launched the first round of Online and Digital Education Staff Exchange Program this fall, and the School of Social Sciences recently organized an academic conference with the aim of building an ethical education platform for artificial intelligence in Asia. In December, the AUA Secretariat also organized the 4th Online Education Fair, which showcased the degree programs and short-term programs at the top universities in Asia. These initiatives have led to innovative collaboration and cultural exchange, which have enhanced the overall quality and global influence of higher education in Asia while cultivating the next generation of leaders in Asia.

From AUA

Editor: Li Han