On Wednesday, October 14, 2026, the “Regional Policy Conference on Future-Ready Higher Education,” co-hosted by the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization Regional Centre for Higher Education and Development (SEAMEO RIHED) and the Commission on Higher Education of the Philippines (CHED), was held in Iloilo City, Philippines. This conference took place as part of the “CHED x SEAMEO RIHED HIGHER EDUCATION WEEK,” bringing together higher education policymakers and key stakeholders from across Southeast Asia to discuss priority issues and regional cooperation for the future of higher education.

Representing the Japan Association of National Universities (JANU), Dr. NASU Yasutomo, Board Member of JANU, Vice-Chair of the International Exchange Committee, and President of Okayama University, was invited as a speaker. Representing Japan’s national universities, Dr. Nasu delivered a presentation under the session theme of “Mobility, Internationalisation and Intercultural Learning,” addressing key topics such as building blended learning environments to ensure intercultural learning opportunities for all students, including those facing financial or travel constraints; fostering global problem-solving capabilities through Education for Sustainable Development (ESD); promoting “multicultural collaborative learning” using the SDGs as a common language while leveraging digital technologies such as AI; and proposing the strengthening of university cooperation between Japan and ASEAN countries towards 2030.

JANU will continue to deepen its network with SEAMEO RIHED and higher education institutions across ASEAN countries, contributing to the development of higher education and the promotion of international exchange on both sides.