Higher education in South Asia is undergoing rapid transformation driven by globalization, technological disruption, demographic changes, and the increasing demand for quality, relevance, and inclusiveness. While several countries in the region have made remarkable progress in expanding access and improving quality, disparity still remains in innovation, employability, artificial intelligence (AI) readiness, governance, and internationalization. Accordingly, the region continues to underperform relative to East Asia across key educational indicators. However, collaboration among South Asian Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) has the potential to create a platform for collective problem-solving, harmonization of standards, mobility of learners, joint research initiatives, and enhanced institutional capacity. In addition, no well-structured mechanism currently exists for sustaining knowledge sharing, policy dialogue,and cooperative partnerships among South Asian countries in spite of their shared historical roots and similar socio-economic contexts. At this backdrop, the South-Asian Regional Conference in Higher Education (SARHE 2026) aims to bring together senior policymakers, higher education leaders, academics, development partners, and experts across South Asia to discuss collaborativepathways for quality enhancement, innovation, employability, and the adoption of AI-driven educational solutions. Unlike presenting traditional research papers, participants in this
upcoming conference will share concept papers and policy-driven demonstrations which in turn contribute through providing pragmatic ideas, strategic recommendations, and actionable collaboration models. Thus, this conference not only aligns with the regional and global
priorities of higher education modernization but also upholds the goals of Bangladesh’s highereducation transformation under the HEET Project supported by the World Bank.
This conference aims at strengthening collaboration and cooperation among South Asian Higher
Education Institutions for improving quality, innovation, employability, AI integration,
community engagement, and inclusiveness. Under this main objective, the following will be the
specific objectives:
1. Cultivating regional collaboration to enhance research, innovation, employability, and
industry-academia collaboration among universities in the South Asian region;
2. Exploring the transformative potential of AI in reshaping higher education;
3. Enhancing the relevance of higher education to meet the demand of job market of the 21st
century across South Asia;
4. Strengthening regional cooperation in the quality assurance and accreditation of higher
education institutions.
The four-day conference is divided into seven working sessions apart from the inaugural and concluding ones. Each session has its own broad themes (please see the program schedule). The sessions will have sub-themes:
Governance, Autonomy and Accountability in Higher Education
Regional and international Participants: Around 50 delegates from South Asian and other regions, including India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives, Malaysia, Mauritius, from development partners including international organizations.
Local Participants: A total of around 500 delegates from different universities, ministries, UGC, representing academics, policymakers, members of civil society organizations, the student community, and industry leaders.
1. A shared regional understanding of challenges and opportunities in higher education;
2. Policy guidelines and recommendations for regional cooperation;
3. Commitments toward joint initiatives (research networks, mobility programs, shared
curricula, etc.);
4. Strengthened institutional partnerships across South Asian countries;
5. A post-conference “Dhaka Declaration” on South Asian Higher Education Collaboration;
6. Enhanced visibility of Bangladesh as a regional leader in higher education reform.