Regional cooperation in higher education in Asia and the Pacific

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to present a general overview of the kinds of regional cooperation that are commonly found in the higher education (HE) sector among countries in Asia and the Pacific. Design/methodology/approach - The research methodology is literature review, collecting primary data from the web sites set up by the various organizations that are being reviewed. Findings - The types of university exchanges can be broadly categorized as academic exchange, research collaboration and university-community engagement. Some of the regional cooperation are initiated by intergovernmental organizations while others are initiated by non-governmental organizations. The paper reviews intergovernmental initiatives by UNESCO, SEAMEO RIHED, ASEAN, ASEM, EAS, and APEC. It also reviews several higher education networks including ASAHIL, UMAP, APRU, AUF, AAOU and APAIE, as well as two regional initiatives, APQN and the UNESCO Regional Convention on the Recognition of Studies, Diplomas and Degrees in Higher Education in Asia and the Pacific. Originality/value - This is an original piece of analytical work on the roles and functions of various HE organizations and networks in the Asia-Pacific region.