đź“ť Summary
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) has officially signed the Host Agreement for APAIE 2027, marking Malaysia’s appointment as the host country for the Asia-Pacific Association for International Education (APAIE) Annual Conference and Exhibition 2027. The event is expected to draw 4,000 international delegates and showcase Malaysia’s strength in higher education to the world. UTM’s hosting of APAIE 2027 builds on its distinguished track record as the main host of APAIE 2019 in Kuala Lumpur.
KUALA LUMPUR, June 8 –Â Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) has officially signed the Host Agreement for APAIE 2027, formalising Malaysia’s appointment as the host country for the Asia-Pacific Association for International Education (APAIE) Annual Conference and Exhibition 2027. The signing ceremony was held on 8 June 2026 at UTM Kuala Lumpur, marking the official commencement of preparations for what is set to become one of the most impactful international higher education events ever held on Malaysian soil.
The Host Agreement was signed by UTM Vice-Chancellor Prof. Ts. Dr. Mohd Shafry Mohd Rahim and APAIE Vice President Prof. Dr. Nopraenue Sajjarax Dhirathiti, witnessed by senior university leadership and representatives from six co-hosting institutions, which are International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM), Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA), Universiti Tenaga Nasional (UNITEN), and Sunway University.
A Milestone for Malaysia’s Global Higher Education Ambitions
APAIE 2027 will be held from 21 to 25 March 2027 at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC), Kuala Lumpur, under the conference theme ‘Humanity in the AI Age’. The event is expected to draw 4,000 international delegates, more than 100 university presidents, over 500 international exhibitors, and 600 or more participating institutions from more than 60 countries and territories. With 30 country pavilions planned, APAIE 2027 is projected to be among the largest editions of the conference in the association’s history.
The signing ceremony marks a significant turning point in Malaysia’s internationalisation journey. Malaysia first received the official APAIE flag at APAIE 2026 in Hong Kong on 23 to 27 February 2026, signifying its appointment as Host Country for 2027. That flag handover, witnessed by 3,592 participants from 72 regions, set the stage for today’s formal agreement and the beginning of a coordinated national effort to deliver a world-class conference.
“This signing is not merely an administrative milestone it is a declaration of Malaysia’s intent to lead the conversation on international higher education in the Asia-Pacific. APAIE 2027 will showcase not only UTM but the full strength of Malaysian higher education to the world.” – Prof. Ts. Dr. Mohd Shafry Mohd Rahim, Vice-Chancellor of UTM
Building on UTM’s Legacy as APAIE Host
UTM’s hosting of APAIE 2027 builds on its distinguished track record as the main host of APAIE 2019 in Kuala Lumpur, the largest APAIE conference in history at the time, attended by 2,500 delegates from 60 countries and 1,111 institutions and graciously graced by Her Majesty Raja Zarith Sofiah, Queen of Johor. The success of APAIE 2019 drew international recognition, including from then-APAIE President Prof. Sarah Todd, who commended Malaysia for providing the ideal setting to address key challenges in higher education across the Asia-Pacific and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) regions.
In the years since, UTM and Malaysia have maintained active engagement in the APAIE ecosystem. At APAIE 2025 in New Delhi, APAIE 2024 in Perth, and APAIE 2023 in Bangkok, Malaysian universities continued to participate actively, building relationships and sustaining visibility ahead of the 2027 hosting. The appointment of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mohd Ariffin Abu Hassan, as APAIE President, serving until 2028, further cements UTM’s leadership position within the association.
Strong Foundations: Global Momentum Already Underway
Even before the ink of the Host Agreement had dried, preparations for APAIE 2027 were already producing results. At National Association of Foreign Student Advisers (NAFSA) 2026 in Orlando, held just days before the signing on 26 to 29 May 2026, UTM secured 18 confirmed country pavilions, formalised a high-level strategic partnership with a Saudi Arabian delegation, and confirmed the participation of both the European Association for International Education (EAIE) President and the NAFSA President at APAIE 2027 Kuala Lumpur, a landmark endorsement from the two most prominent international education associations outside the Asia-Pacific. These achievements signal strong global confidence in Malaysia’s ability to host a landmark edition of the conference.
The Road to APAIE 2027
With the Host Agreement now formally in place, UTM International will coordinate preparations across the working committees encompassing conference programming, exhibition management, delegate services, sponsorship, marketing, and government liaison. APAIE 2027 Kuala Lumpur represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to position Malaysia as the undisputed premier higher education hub of the Asia-Pacific, and UTM, together with its co-hosting partners and the Ministry of Higher Education, is fully committed to delivering that vision.
About APAIE 2027 Kuala Lumpur
APAIE 2027 will be held from 21–25 March 2027 at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC), Kuala Lumpur, under the theme ‘Humanity in the AI Age.’ Hosted by Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), co-hosted by IIUM, UKM, UTeM, UMPSA, UNITEN, and Sunway University, in collaboration with the Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia (MOHE).
Enquiries: APAIE 2027 Main Secretariat   directorutmi@utm.my | azaliah@utm.my | suzalpha.kl@utm.my
