Sunway University Highlights Future-Ready Leadership at 6th Global Education Summit in Chandigarh, India
Sunway University contributed to international dialogues on the future of higher education at the 6th Global Education Summit 2026, hosted by Chandigarh University. The summit convened academic leaders globally to explore how international collaboration, artificial intelligence, and emerging technologies can foster sustainable and future-ready educational frameworks.
Representing Sunway University, Dr Padma Pillai, Deputy Dean (Internationalisation) at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, co-presented a session titled “From Crossing Borders to Crossing Boundaries: How Sunway University forms socially sensitive professional leaders” alongside university representative Marcel Bandur, Director of Internationalisation, Global Engagement and Mobility.
Redefining Internationalisation and Transnational Education
The presentation challenged traditional metrics of higher education internationalisation—often measured by mobility statistics, delegation counts, and signed agreements—advocating instead for a focus on qualitative impact and student development.
Key insights shared during the presentation included:
Boundary-Crossing Competencies: Evaluating transnational education based on graduates’ ability to navigate cultural, social, and economic boundaries responsibly rather than merely crossing physical borders.
Structural Integration of Values: Demonstrating how Sunway University embeds core values into its institutional framework through curriculum, coaching, community engagement, campus culture, and strategic connections.
Purpose-Driven Partnerships: Framing international collaborations around shared learning, co-creation, and joint problem-solving rather than mobility alone.
Addressing Technological Evolution in Higher Education
In light of rapid advancements in artificial intelligence, the summit served as a forum for academic leaders to discuss the overarching purpose of modern higher education, ensuring technology serves institutional goals and student outcomes responsibly.
During the summit, Sunway University representatives engaged in strategic discussions with academic leaders from diverse global institutions, including:
Asia: American International University-Bangladesh, Daffodil International University (Bangladesh), University of Kelaniya (Sri Lanka), Islamic University of Maldives, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, and Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR).
Europe: International Slavic University (North Macedonia), Universidade Católica Portuguesa (Portugal), The International University College of Turin (Italy), Free University of Bozen-Bolzano (Italy), Università Politecnica delle Marche (Italy), and Leeds Beckett University (UK).
Americas, Oceania & Africa: Universidad Peruana de Ciencias Aplicadas (Peru), University of Wollongong (Australia), and Bule Hora University (Ethiopia).
Sunway University remains committed to advancing purpose-led global partnerships that equip graduates with intercultural adaptability, ethical leadership, and professional excellence.
