Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU) reinforced its international footprint at the QS Europe Summit 2026 in Budapest, Hungary; where university leaders engaged in strategic talks with global institutions and participated in a QS Rankings Masterclass to strengthen partnerships in research, academic mobility, and institutional performance following its record positioning in the QS World University Rankings 2027.

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Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU) reinforced its commitment to international engagement and academic excellence through its high-profile participation in the QS Europe Summit 2026. 

Co-hosted by Széchenyi István University (University of Győr) in Budapest, Hungary; the gathering brought together prominent higher education leaders, policymakers, and university ranking experts from across Europe and around the world.

Representing APU on the international stage, Professor Ir EUR ING Dr Vinesh Thiruchelvam, Chief Innovation, Enterprise & Sustainability Officer, alongside Ts Nur Zahdi Mohd. Nor Aldin, Director of Quality Management, took part in a dynamic lineup of strategic networking sessions, bilateral talks, and professional workshops designed to deepen the University’s global network and elevate its rankings strategy.

Throughout the summit, the APU delegation-built momentum by holding high-level discussions with representatives from an impressive array of global institutions. 

These included GBSB Global Business School (Spain), Universidad Nebrija (Spain), Universitat Central de Catalunya (Spain), Yerevan State University (Armenia), Audencia Business School (France), Universidad UTE (Ecuador), Universitas Padjadjaran (Indonesia), University of Aberdeen (Scotland), National University of Science and Technology Politehnica Bucharest (Romania), Valahia University of Târgoviște (Romania), Westcliff University (USA), Széchenyi István University (University of Győr) (Hungary), Vilnius Gediminas Technical University (Lithuania), and Taif University (Saudi Arabia), alongside key international bodies such as the International Finance Corporation (IFC) of the World Bank Group.

These bilateral talks opened doors to exciting collaborative avenues, exploring critical areas such as cross-border student and staff mobility and exchange, joint research projects, academic exchanges, dual-degree pathways, quality assurance benchmarking, rankings strategy, and co-hosted international conferences.

Beyond forging operational ties, the dialogues provided a vibrant forum for sharing best practices on institutional reputation building, pioneering sustainability initiatives, and adapting to the evolving priorities of global higher education.

A major highlight of the event was the QS Rankings Masterclass, an intensive, hands-on workshop delivered directly by the QS Rankings team. 

The masterclass provided deep technical insights into the latest QS World University Rankings methodology, equipping APU’s representatives with strategic frameworks for indicator optimisation, institutional data quality, targeted submission strategies, and performance enhancement across key ranking metrics.

The practical knowledge gained from the session was set to be integrated directly into APU’s ongoing strategic planning, driving data-informed initiatives to sharpen the University’s global competitiveness and expand its international visibility.

By engaging directly with senior university leaders from across Europe, North America, Asia, and the Middle East, APU not only strengthened existing ties but also laid the groundwork for transformative academic partnerships in teaching, research, and innovation.

APU’s proactive role at the QS Europe Summit 2026 underscored its determination to widen its global footprint and deliver impactful, industry-aligned education. 

Coming on the heels of the University’s historic, highest-ever positioning in the QS World University Rankings 2027, the summit attendance marked another decisive step forward in APU’s sustained momentum as a global hub for higher education.

In the latest QS World University Rankings 2027, officially released on 18 June 2026, APU achieved its highest-ever global position, climbing to #528 in the world. 

This milestone placed the institution firmly among the Top 2% of universities globally, climbing 69 spots from its previous rank of #597.