Education Symposium: Empowering Asia’s Rise – a Resounding Success
On November 22, 2024, the INSEAD Education Symposium brought together thought leaders, educators, and industry professionals to discuss strategies and trends shaping the future of education across Asia.
The event provided a platform for insightful discussions, innovative ideas, and collaborative thinking, aligning with the overarching theme of "Strategic Perspectives for 21st Century Education”
Key takeaways
The inclusive innovation imperative: redefining learning for a diverse world
Rajeev Peshawaria, Domic Nixon, Dr Nadir Zafar, Juan Figar
The first panel was an inspiring discussion as thought leaders shared unique perspectives on education's future. The conversation emphasised empathy as the foundation of innovation and highlighted the importance of accessibility, outcomes, and community strength in nurturing future-ready learners. It concluded with a vision of how strategic funding can support the building of this inclusive ‘village.’
Learning with AI: Fostering critical thinking in an AI-driven world
Alex Manson, Anwar Abdullah, Dr Puay San Ng, Dr Richard Yen
The second panel took the conversation forward through this dialogue and underscored the transformative role of AI in education and beyond. Panellists gave examples of how AI offers transformative opportunities to personalize learning, scale access, and break traditional barriers.
However, they also stressed the importance of integrating critical thinking with AI, addressing ethical concerns, and embracing AI as a tool to foster creativity and innovation, not replace foundational skills.
Reimagining student mobility post-pandemic
Dr Navin Rajagobal, Abhinav Mital, Rohan Pasari, Amitabh Jhingan
The panellists shared their perspectives on student mobility during one of the most challenging times for international students in decades. The study abroad market has rebounded post-COVID, with South Asia now the largest source market. Panellists explored challenges such as shifting immigration policies and operational hurdles while highlighting opportunities in tech-driven student matching and hybrid education models.
Building Sustainable Education Businesses: A view from founders and business owners
Yi Xian Ng, Atul Temurnikar, Jaspal Sidhu, Martin Roll
Sustaining education businesses through multiple decades requires balancing legacy with innovation, fostering a strong organisational culture, and embracing disruptions like technological advancements. Panelists highlighted professionalisation, strategic partnerships, and a focus on long-term growth as keys to success.
Defining and evaluating the impact of private capital investment in education
Vishal Thapliyal, Chee Siong Lim, Chalothorn (Boat) Vashirakovit, Esther Chia
Private capital has been a key driver of growth in the education sector over the last decade. Investors from equity, credit, and hybrid funds shared insights on evaluating investments, each bringing a unique lens to navigating regulatory complexities, aligning financial returns with social impact, and leveraging private investment to improve access and foster innovation in underserved communities.
Highlights
The symposium was proudly supported by DBS, the Official Banking Partner, whose sponsorship played a pivotal role in enhancing the event's success. DBS showcased its expertise in providing tailored financial solutions to educational institutions, addressing challenges like cross-border transactions and diverse regulatory landscapes, and aligning investor expectations with institutional missions.
DBS' commitment to fostering innovation in education underscored the event's theme of empowering learning in a rapidly evolving world.
The symposium opened with an inspiring speech by Prof. Sameer Hasija, Dean of Executive Education and Asia Campus at INSEAD. He highlighted the transformative role of technology in reshaping education, including the integration of AI for personalised learning and the use of immersive experiences for leadership training.
Prof. Hasija also emphasised INSEAD's global reach and its mission to address global educational challenges through innovation.
Engaging booths added a dynamic dimension to the event, creating an educational playground where attendees could experience innovative products alongside ideas. Highlights included Noodle Factory, an AI-powered teaching assistant platform enabling educators to create customised AI tutors for tutoring, mentoring, and feedback, seamlessly integrated with curated content and already enhancing learning outcomes in INSEAD’s MIM and MBA courses.
The INSEAD XR Immersive Experience showcased the world’s most extensive immersive learning library, offering cost-effective, personalized, and data-driven solutions for leadership and executive training, demonstrating how immersive technology is revolutionising classroom learning and management education.
Conclusion
The INSEAD Education Symposium was a platform for reimagining the future of education in Asia. By bringing together diverse perspectives from educators, business leaders, and investors, the event fostered meaningful discussions on transforming learning systems to meet the demands of the 21st century.
Through innovation, collaboration, and a focus on inclusivity, the symposium charted a path for actionable solutions and long-term impact—empowering participants to drive meaningful change and shape the future of education.
