From October 13-15, the 20th Triennial Conference of the International Association of University Presidents (IAUP) took place in Beijing, China. The event focused on the theme: "Generative AI and the Future of Higher Education."
The conference was attended by Kakha Shengelia, President of Caucasus University and Chairman of the IAUP Governing Board, along with Irena Melua, Vice-President of Caucasus University for Internationalization. A delegation of Georgian rectors also participated in the event, including representatives from Alte University, Georgian National University, Georgian-American University, and Georgian Aviation University.
Kakha Shengelia participated in the opening of the conference and addressed the audience, noting that this is his final term leading the Governing Board, marking the end of a decade in IAUP governance. He was elected IAUP President-Elect for a three-year term in 2014, served as President from 2017 to 2021, and was Chairman of the Governing Board from 2021 to 2024. He highlighted the achievements and outcomes the organization reached with his team and expressed gratitude to the current president, Fernando Leon Garcia, for his contributions to the development of the organization, as well as to the governing board and all members. From 2024, Kakha Shengelia will continue his work on the IAUP Executive Committee.
The IAUP conference was held in Beijing with the participation of higher education leaders. With over 60 international speakers, the conference explored how AI is reshaping universities, transforming teaching, learning, and governance worldwide. Panel discussions were held on topics such as:
- AI Ethics and its impact on education
- Innovation in educational models
- Talent Development through AI
- The future of higher education
Within the framework of the event, Caucasus University signed several memorandums of cooperation and actively participated in the Technology Forum, where the latest technological achievements were presented.
This conference marks a significant moment for the IAUP as the 2021-2024 triennium, led by Dr. Fernando Leon García (CETYS University) as President and Kakha Shengelia as Chairman of the Governing Board, concludes. During this period, the IAUP prioritized post-pandemic recovery in higher education, institutional transformation, innovation, and inclusiveness. Board and governing council meetings were held during the event. At the General Assembly, new leadership for 2024-2027 was elected: Dr. Shawn Chen, Chancellor of Sias University (China) as President, Dr. Brent White, Chief Global Officer of University of Hawaii at Manoa (USA) as Treasurer, and Mr. Tatsuro Tanioka, Vice Chancellor of Tanioka Gakuen Education Foundation (Japan), as Secretary-General.
