After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the former member nations took on the responsibility of planning, organizing, and managing their educational systems. Many of these countries turned to the West, especially the United States, for innovative ideas, resources, and expertise to help tackle their ongoing challenges.

In 2002, Moldova’s Minister of Education reached out to Dr. Steve O. Michael, a professor of higher education at Kent State University, to deliver a keynote address at their inaugural International Conference on Higher Education Reform. Following the conference, he visited several institutions in Romania and Turkey, furthering discussions on higher education reform among countries around the Black Sea.

The vision to enhance higher education in the Black Sea region led to the establishment of the Association of Black Sea Higher Education Leaders (ABSHEL). This organization eventually evolved into the Global Advancement of Private Universities and Colleges (GAPUC). GAPUC organized several international conferences that attracted interest from public institutions. In response to this growing interest, GAPUC transformed into the Association for the Global Advancement of Universities and Colleges (AGAUC).

Dr. Steve Michael, the Vice Provost of Kent State University in the USA, and Dr. Sergey Zaprygaev, the Vice Rector of Voronezh State University in Russia, led the initial efforts to organize conferences in Russia and the Black Sea countries. Both Kent State and Voronezh State are public universities.

AGAUC has expanded its vision to include countries that are relatively new to the private higher education sector, specifically adding China to its list. Professor Du, the former President of Xian International University, and Dr. Andy Pusca, the former Rector of Danubius University, joined the leadership team. The Association has successfully hosted numerous international conferences in various countries, including Russia, China, Turkey, Romania, and Tunisia. Under the leadership of its Founder and President, Professor Huang Teng, Xian International University has hosted several AGAUC conferences and played a significant role in the formation of AGAUC. Additionally, SIAS University in China, led by its Founder and President, Professor Shawn Chen, co-hosted an AGAUC conference in Zhengzhou. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted AGAUC’s conference activities for several years, and the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine has further complicated efforts to host conferences in the region.

The COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, xenophobia, and immigration issues remind us that we live in a small and troubled world. Our ability to make progress depends on international and transnational cooperation and collaboration. Universities are unique institutions well-positioned to educate and prepare students for global leadership, as well as promote global citizenship. Private universities and colleges, driven by their entrepreneurial spirit, have both the advantage and the motivation to attract students and scholars from around the world. AGAUC offers a welcoming environment for globally minded individuals who recognize and appreciate the role of higher education in fostering a better world for all.