EYEWITNESS NEWS – BADUNG
3 November 2026
BINUS University is hosting the QS Higher Ed Summit: Asia Pacific 2026, an international higher education forum organized by QS Quacquarelli Symonds at the Bali International Convention Centre from 3–5 November 2026.
Marking its 22nd edition, the forum carries the main theme, “Advancing Education for Purpose and Impact.” It brings together more than 1,500 university leaders, academics, policymakers, and education experts from various countries to discuss trends, challenges, and the future of higher education—including academic reputation, global rankings, institutional performance, and international collaboration.
The hosting of this forum serves as a significant milestone for BINUS, coinciding with its 45th anniversary of contributing to the development of higher education in Indonesia. Beyond strengthening international networks, this opportunity also opens avenues for Indonesia to share perspectives and collaborate with the higher education community in the Asia-Pacific region to address ongoing and evolving challenges.
Stephen Wahyudi Santoso, BSE, MSIST, President of BINUS Higher Education & Professional Services, stated, “The trust to host the QS Higher Ed Summit: Asia Pacific 2026 is an important opportunity for BINUS to bring Indonesia’s perspective into discussions regarding the future of higher education in the Asia-Pacific region. Today, higher education faces increasingly complex challenges, ranging from shifting labor market needs and technological advancements to the demand for equipping graduates with relevant competencies. Through this forum, we hope to foster knowledge exchange, strengthen cross-border collaboration, and jointly explore solutions for current and future educational challenges.”
Over the past five years, the forum has been held in several cities—including Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Macau, and Seoul—before returning to Indonesia with its 2026 edition in Bali. Strategic topics featured at the event range from the application of AI in education and the development of curricula relevant to future jobs, to human-centric innovations for the future.
BINUS’s Steps to Prepare Adaptive Graduates Amid Workforce Transformations
Technological shifts and automation are significantly reshaping workforce demands, compelling higher education institutions to continuously align their educational approaches with industry developments. According to World Bank data, between 2018 and 2022, the adoption of industrial robots across five ASEAN countries, including Indonesia, is estimated to have contributed to the creation of approximately 2 million formal jobs for high-skilled workers while displacing around 1.4 million formal jobs for low-skilled workers.
These findings indicate that technological progress is fundamentally altering skill requirements in the global workforce, underscoring the importance for universities to produce graduates who are both relevant and adaptable to change. Addressing these challenges, BINUS University continually develops learning approaches synchronized with technological advancements and industry needs, including the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) within its educational ecosystem. This approach emphasizes not only technological proficiency but also encourages students to leverage AI critically, creatively, and responsibly.
BINUS University Rector, Dr. Nelly, S.Kom., M.M., remarked, “Technological advancements, including artificial intelligence, are driving higher education institutions to continuously evaluate their learning approaches to remain relevant to industry needs. At BINUS, we view AI as a tool that can support students’ learning processes and creativity. Therefore, what matters most is not merely introducing this technology, but equipping students with the ability to use it critically, creatively, and responsibly.”
BINUS University Rector, Dr. Nelly, S.Kom., M.M., remarked, “Technological advancements, including artificial intelligence, are driving higher education institutions to continuously evaluate their learning approaches to remain relevant to industry needs. At BINUS, we view AI as a tool that can support students’ learning processes and creativity. Therefore, what matters most is not merely introducing this technology, but equipping students with the ability to use it critically, creatively, and responsibly.”
Beyond curriculum development, BINUS champions practice-based learning and multidisciplinary approaches to enable students to connect academic knowledge with real-world professional applications. These efforts are further reinforced through the Multi-Helix ecosystem, a research-driven innovation collaboration platform launched by BINUS University via Research and Technology Transfer (RTT). Through this ecosystem, BINUS strives to foster cross-sector collaboration among universities, industries, government bodies, communities, and other stakeholders to unlock spaces for competency development, knowledge exchange, and the creation of innovations relevant to societal and workforce needs.
Through the hosting of the QS Higher Ed Summit: Asia Pacific 2026 and the continuous development of its educational ecosystem, BINUS University remains committed to driving cross-border collaboration while delivering higher education that is relevant, adaptive, and impactful for society.
About BINUS
With 45 years of experience nurturing Indonesia (Nusantara) through education, BINUS University holds the core vision: “A World-class university, fostering and empowering the society in building and serving the nation.” This driving spirit has established BINUS University as the #1 private university in Indonesia and ranked 165th in Asia for 2026. BINUS University operates 13 campuses spread across various cities in Indonesia, supporting a thriving Binusian community of over 220,000 members—comprising 182,000+ alumni, 55,000+ active students, 2,000+ faculty members, and 53 BINUS University Professors.
In Bali, BINUS collaborates with Udayana University, Stikom, and ISI Denpasar.
Reporter: Daniel Herry
