At the Eurasia Higher Education Summit (EURIE) 2026 in Istanbul, Pakistan emerged as a confident voice in international higher education, using educational diplomacy to expand research, mobility and institutional ties. The summit convened representatives from 61 countries and more than 380 universities, providing a prominent platform for Pakistan to highlight its evolving higher education landscape.
A high-powered delegation organized by the Association of Private Sector Universities of Pakistan (APSUP) included 42 members from 17 leading universities and featured participation from OIC-COMSTECH. This coordinated presence underscored Pakistan’s strategic use of educational diplomacy to present a unified institutional front and pursue tangible partnerships.
Prof. Dr. Sumaira Rehman, Rector of Superior University and a member of the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan, delivered the sole female keynote at the inauguration and framed Pakistan’s message around values-driven leadership. Her assertion that ‘Pakistan has a compelling story to tell’ was accompanied by the launch of the “Leading with Character” framework, urging integration of ethical responsibility alongside technical competence in university curricula.
The APSUP delegation held a high-level meeting with Prof. Dr. Erol Özvar, President of the Council of Higher Education (YÖK), to explore deeper Pakistan-Türkiye cooperation. Discussions covered joint research initiatives, faculty and student exchanges, technology transfer and participation in Türkiye’s 500 Research Projects Initiative, with an invitation extended for Pakistani institutions to engage in the programme and for YÖK representatives to visit Pakistan.
The Pakistan Pavilion drew steady international attention throughout the summit, becoming a focal point for dialogue and collaboration. University leaders and delegations from Europe, Asia and the Americas discussed multiple Memorandums of Understanding and collaborative initiatives, reflecting the practical outcomes of Pakistan’s educational diplomacy at the event.
Senior representatives from Arab and Eurasian academic organisations praised Pakistan’s constructive engagement and signalled interest in long-term partnerships. The combination of intellectual leadership, coordinated delegation strategy and visible institutional presence at EURIE 2026 reinforced Pakistan’s role as an emerging contributor to global higher education conversations.
By advancing the “Leading with Character” agenda and securing new avenues for cooperation, Pakistan used educational diplomacy at EURIE 2026 to translate policy vision into actionable links with international partners, strengthening research, mobility and institutional collaboration.
