Between March 25 –28, 2025, the University of Bucharest participated in the Asia-Pacific Association for International Education (APAIE 2025) Conference and Exhibition. The university was represented by Professor Marian Preda, PhD, Rector of the University of Bucharest, along with Cristina Gabriela Petrescu and Flavia Vendetti from the International Relations Office, responsible for promoting the university’s study programs.
The event took place in New Delhi, India, under the theme Cultivating Global Citizens for the Future: The Higher Education Imperative in the Asia Pacific and Beyond. It brought together 18 Romanian university delegations under the umbrella of the National Council of Rectors, through the Study in Romania program.
APAIE is the largest international education gathering in the Asia-Pacific region and ranks as the third biggest event of its kind worldwide, following NAFSA – Association of International Educators (USA) and EAIE – European Association for International Education (Europe).
The Romanian delegation was honored by the presence of Her Excellency Ms. Sena Latif, Ambassador of Romania to India, at the national pavilion. Ambassador Latif highlighted the importance of strengthening ties between Romanian higher education institutions and the Romanian Embassy in India, with the shared goal of attracting students from India and other countries served by the embassy. On March 26, the Romanian university representatives were invited to a networking event hosted at the Ambassador’s Residence in New Delhi.
The opening ceremony featured a keynote address by Nobel Peace Prize laureate (2014) Shri Kailash Satyarthi, founder of the Satyarthi Movement for Global Compassion. His speech emphasized the vital role of compassion in society and education, underscoring the importance of human values in the academic world. The ceremony was presided over by Professor C. Raj Kumar, PhD, Rector of OP Jindal Global University, the host institution.
On the first day of the conference, the University of Bucharest held meetings with representatives from eight universities, including Hokkaido University (Japan) and Florida Atlantic University (USA), focusing on expanding academic exchange programs and exploring opportunities for joint projects.
The visit of Pusan National University (South Korea) to the University of Bucharest’s stand underscored the strong and ongoing partnership between the two institutions.
The growing interest of Indian universities in international cooperation led to productive discussions with leading institutions such as Chitkara University, Alliance University, and Presidency University. These talks centered on building new partnerships and promoting the University of Bucharest’s academic offer.
On the second day, the UB delegation met with representatives from ten universities, including Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (China), Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Hidalgo (Mexico), Aoyama Gakuin University (Japan), and Chonnam National University (South Korea). Discussions focused on broadening academic exchange programs to give UB students opportunities for short-term study experiences at partner institutions, enriching their educational and cultural perspectives. These partnerships also aim to increase UB’s visibility among international students.
Speaking on the importance of UB’s participation, Rector Marian Preda stated: ”Taking part in events like APAIE is essential for attracting more international students. The Asian educational market is vast, and we aim to build on our existing partnerships while especially focusing on students from India, a rapidly developing country with English-language universities and enormous growth potential. I was encouraged by the interest Indian universities showed in Romania and particularly in UB, and I’m confident this event will have a strong impact on the number of international students at our university.”
The day concluded with a reception at the Ambassador’s Residence, attended by Romanian university delegates, the Romanian diplomatic team in India, Indian researchers, local journalists, as well as Romania’s Honorary Consuls in Nepal and Chennai.
During the official remarks, Ambassador Sena Latif and Professor Sorin Cîmpeanu, PhD, President of the National Council of Rectors of Romania, emphasized the importance of opening Romanian higher education to new international partnerships. They also highlighted the role of Romanian education in societal development and the need to maintain high standards in higher education.
Through its presence at APAIE 2025, the University of Bucharest reaffirms its commitment to internationalization and to building a globally competitive education system, strengthening its position as a key academic partner on the international stage.