Introduction

In the context of intensified global competition for talent and resources, coupled with the ongoing massification of higher education, institutions are increasingly required to respond to emerging challenges with agility and strategic foresight. In the post-pandemic era, heightened attention has been directed toward the construction of new regulatory frameworks and the redefinition of quality assurance mechanisms. While the higher education sector has been subjected to various waves of reform aimed at mitigating systemic risks, it is concurrently under pressure to pursue renewal, innovation, and responsiveness to evolving societal and economic demands.

Within the Asia-Pacific region, the rapid expansion of higher education over the past decades has prompted national governments to develop and institutionalize comprehensive regulatory frameworks to ensure quality and relevance. These frameworks are not only intended to address domestic educational imperatives but also to position national systems within the broader global discourse on quality, accountability, and international competitiveness. As a result, innovation-oriented policies have emerged, emphasizing the enhancement of educational quality, the promotion of university-society engagement, the strengthening of stakeholder collaboration, and the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Recognising the diversity and complexity of higher education systems across Asia, it is acknowledged that there is no singular or prescriptive model for achieving effectiveness and sustainability in governance, research, and teaching and learning innovation. In response, the joint symposium organised by Chengchi University in Taiwan, Higher Education Evaluation & Accreditation Council of Taiwan and The Hang Seng University of Hong Kong aims to convene leading scholars in the field of higher education to critically examine contemporary system reforms and evolving quality standards under emerging regulatory paradigms. The symposium will further explore strategies for enhancing stakeholder engagement, aligning educational outcomes with labor market demands, and advancing innovation, digital transformation, and SDG integration within higher education institutions.