Astana:For the first time, a Thai university leader has been elected as the President of the Asian Universities Alliance (AUA). Professor Dr. Vilelert Poorivachara, President of Chulalongkorn University, has been entrusted with this prestigious role during the recent AUA Board Meeting 2026 held at Nazarbayev University in Astana, Kazakhstan. This marks a significant milestone for Thailand in the realm of higher education.

According to Thai News Agency, Professor Dr. Vilelert Poorivachara will serve a three-year term from 2026 to 2029 as the President of AUA, a network comprising 15 leading universities in Asia. This is the first time a Thai university has been selected to lead the alliance since its inception in 2017.

At the AUA Presidents Forum 2026, which focused on 'Shaping Future Universities Industry Engagement and Governance Innovation,' Dr. Vilelert shared his vision for 'Future University Governance Models.' His presentation emphasized the need for universities to become more agile and responsive to global changes, addressing future higher education needs.

The AUA includes prestigious institutions such as Tsinghua University, Peking University, National University of Singapore, The University of Tokyo, Seoul National University, and Universiti Malaya. Chulalongkorn University stands as the sole Thai institution among this group, and its leadership role is expected to enhance Thailand's influence in international academic collaboration.

In addition to his new role with AUA, Professor Dr. Vilelert holds several other leadership positions in higher education networks. These include Chairman of the Council of University Presidents of Thailand (CUPT) starting January 1, 2025, President of the Association of Southeast Asian Higher Education Institutions (ASAIHL) for 2025-2026, and Chair of the Asia-Europe Lifelong Learning Network (ASEM LLL Hub) for 2025-2030. These roles highlight his commitment to fostering educational collaboration and human resource development at multiple levels.