Searching for an outstanding 2025 professional development experience? Keen to accelerate your knowledge of and engagement with Asia?
The international education sector is a key pillar of Australia’s presence in and capability to cultivate deep relationships across Asia.
Now celebrating 30 years of excellence, the Asialink Leaders Program equips participants with the knowledge and skills to thrive in Asia’s diverse and dynamic markets. It continues to empower an alumni community of 1,200 global professionals.
What’s on offer at Asialink?
Well, Asialink is Australia’s leading national centre for creative engagement with Asia, developing insights, capabilities and connections across the Arts, Business, Diplomacy and Education spheres.
Uniquely placed Asialink works with communities to build a strong, shared future for Australia centred around Asia capability. Formed in 1990 as a joint initiative of the Australian Government’s Commission for the Future and the Myer Foundation, Asialink is hosted by the University of Melbourne.
The leader’s program transformative nine-month learning journey builds practical skills, strategic thinking, and cultural competence – critical elements of effective leadership in an Asian context – all fundamental to educational relationships underpinning regional development.
Learn more about the 2025 Asialink Leaders Program here.
Why education and Asia?
No matter the lens through which you view our region, Australia’s future is entwined with Asia. Education, explicitly and implicitly, is a foundation of Australia’s’ broad foreign policy architecture, clearly on display through the flurry of Free Trade Agreements, strategic partnership statements and relationship upgrades across the last decade.
With 2024 marking 50 years of Australian dialogue relations with ASEAN and the 2023 launch of Invested: Australia’s Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040, international education providers clearly underpin Australia’s broader economic engagement. They influence how other institutions cultivate regional ties.
By way of a single example, heavily invested in the India Economic Strategy to 2035, Australian diplomacy through people to people exchange is supporting India implement a visionary National Education Policy. Our expansive and eclectic presence will assist India deliver its ambition to educate 500 million people by 2035.
Our growth in India and across the region is far reaching. Monash with a campus in Jakarta was also a pioneer in Malaysia and delivers in Suzhou, China. The University of Western Sydney in Surabaya, and a Deakin partnership with Lancaster are showcasing exciting new Indonesian ventures. James Cook University have long worked deeply in Singapore, as have Curtin University.
Deakin University fresh from celebrating 30 years in India are joined by Wollongong at GIFT City, Gujarat and complement the Monash presence and industry partnerships with IIT Bombay. RMIT, for over 20 years, have built a significant footprint and campus network in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City and Malaysia is a second home for both Curtin and Swinburne in Sarawak. The list indeed goes on….
However, these few examples of physical presence only scratch the surface of Australia’s engagement tapestry. Our schools deliver in country programs across the region through world class curricula and the VET sector flourishes offshore through deep localised industry partnerships. The multitude of twining and partnership arrangements, creative TNE modelling and the hundreds of exchanges and student mobility agreements that link Australian primary, secondary and tertiary education delivery with the region are indeed open for reinvention.
While debate over the international onshore student and migration nexus engulfs the media and sector, it is clear offshore delivery is a key agenda item. Minister Clare in his 2024 AIEC keynote noting “it’s not just about students coming here. It’s also about us going to them”, affirming government clearly see alternative modes of delivery as a means to navigate the complexity of caps.
So… there is a compelling case for educators to embrace the Asialink leaders’ program in forging new paths alongside other sector visionaries.
The leaders program
In 2025 the cohort of visionary leaders will dive into the cultural, historical, economic and geopolitical complexities of Asia’s vibrant landscape. Pursuing individual projects that impact their personal, organisational and sectors engagement with the region they become key building blocks of Australia’s national Asia capability.
This is a unique opportunity to join an exceptional alumni chapter; a community of practice with a bank of experience designed to equip, empower, and elevate engagement with Asia. The cohort will draw on the expertise and experience of senior leaders across the region and 30 years of Asialink building insights, capability and connectivity for Australian organisations.
It’s a stepping stone to elevate the impact and influence of our Australian education sector in Asia and with Asian partners. Program highlights include;
- Fast-tracked learning: Gain in-depth knowledge of Asian markets and cultures.
- Expert insights: Interact with over 100 experts in intimate sessions exploring Asian countries and industries.
- Practical application: Undertake a workplace project focused on Asia, applying your new skills directly.
- Exclusive resources: Access a wealth of online tools, readings, and materials.
- Global Network: Join a senior and influential and active alumni community for ongoing support and unparalleled networking opportunities.
It will bring together leaders from professional services, arts, education, government, tech and a range of other sectors. Through reflections, practical steps and knowledge generation and sharing the program gives rise to life-changing impactful stories. These leaders will expand their knowledge and skillsets, build lasting relationships, and make significant contributions to their field.
Fellowship opportunities
Asialink will offer a range of funded places for exceptional individuals. Information about previous fellowship opportunities from 2024 can be seen here . The 2025 Fellowship program will be launched on 27 November to support leaders from diverse backgrounds and sectors. However, already confirmed for 2025 are;
- Sir Edward Weary Dunlop Asialink Fellowship for two Leaders in the not-for-profit sector
- First Nations Fellowships for an Indigenous Leader based in Australia or Asia
- Susan Gin Asialink Leaders Fellowship for a Leader in rural/regional Australia
- Asialink Arts Fellowship for a Leader in the Arts and Creative Industries
Watch the Asialink site and Koala news for further information at the end of November. Importantly, these Fellowships open the opportunity to nominate or recommend a partner based in Asia who you see playing a critical role in regional development.
Back to close out the India example for context.
While but one regional partner, India is on an exponential and kaleidoscopic growth trajectory. Home to 300 million children, India has one million people turning 18 every month. Minister Clare released the A Partnership for the Future – Australia’s Education Strategy for India report at the Australia India Education and Skills Council meeting in late 2023, with a strategy outlining three pillars to enhance the partnership between India and Australia, including:
- Delivering mutual benefits through education.
- Strengthening institutional partnerships and research collaboration.
- Enhancing people-to-people links, mobility and employability.
Education, at scale by necessity, is firmly on the agenda.
How to engage
If you are ready to take your leadership capability to the next level this program provides the personal and organisational uplift to establish and deepen educational ties within the Asian region.
Register for the online information session 12.00 noon AEDT Fri 1 Nov, 2024 here.
Hear from:
- Asialink Business CEO Leigh Howard
- Charlotta Oberg, Program Director, Asialink Leaders Program
- Program Alumni Martin Commons, Director ESG Advisory at NAB
- Helen Oh, Austrade Commissioner, Singapore.
See information on 2025 program dates and registration details here.
For further enquiries contact the Asialink team here.
