The Asian Graduate Studies Summit 2025 (A GRASS 2025) is organised by the Asia Pacific Consortium of Researchers and Educators (APCORE), in collaboration with Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and Education (HCMUTE), from May 21–24, 2025, in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The summit’s central theme is “Bridging Knowledge to Action: Transformative Graduate Education and Research for a Sustainable Asia.” This initiative stems from recognising that Asia faces critical challenges in urban expansion, climate change, economic inequality, and digital transformation. Therefore, graduate-level research is necessary to connect classroom knowledge to practical solutions for societal issues.
Project Coordinator:
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Witawat Chaengiam
Objectives:
A GRASS 2025 aims to create a multidisciplinary platform for graduate students, lecturers, and researchers to present research on regional and global sustainability issues. The main objectives are as follows:
- To promote interdisciplinary research exchange that addresses the SDGs.
- To foster collaboration among academia, industry, and government sectors.
- To advance graduate-level curricula and concepts on sustainability.
- To introduce mechanisms and pilot projects that translate academic knowledge into practice.
- To provide a forum for cross-disciplinary dialogue and regional cooperation.
Program Activities:
The Asian Graduate Studies Summit 2025 (A GRASS 2025) is an academic conference focusing on knowledge-sharing and research exchange among graduate students across Asia, particularly in sustainability, inclusive development, and socio-technological transformations. The summit supports continued collaboration among participants through research networks, follow-up group meetings, and student/faculty exchange programs, ensuring the sustainability of long-term knowledge exchange and research development.
Expected Outcomes (Impacts):
- Support for national and regional sustainability goals – The event aligns with the SDGs, covering issues such as justice, social well-being, health, and the environment, with sub-themes including poverty reduction, food security, and climate action.
- Concrete linkage between theory and practice – Under the theme “Bridging Knowledge to Action”, the summit emphasises that graduate research should not remain purely academic but must be translated into policies, techniques, or practical applications.
- Inspiration for cross-university and cross-national collaboration – Bring educators, graduate leaders, researchers, and policymakers from countries such as Vietnam, the Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia, India, and more.
- Future skills development for graduate students – Through research presentations, breakout sessions, and innovation boot camps on AI and research methodologies, promoting hands-on learning and genuine academic networking.
- Elevating institutional and regional standing on the global stage – With APCORE and HCMUTE hosting alongside partners across Asia, the summit strengthens the Asia-Pacific’s image as a key hub for research and innovation worldwide.
Date of Implementation: May 21-24, 2025
