Our 2019 decision to identify and celebrate the most impactful and innovative stories from Asian higher education was a pivotal moment for us. THE Awards Asia – now in their ninth year – were our first to focus on the outstanding work taking place outside the UK. After nearly 20 years of running the THE Awards, we were acutely aware that rankings – as rigorous and comprehensive as they are – could not uncover all the projects, performances and day-to-day brilliance happening at institutions across the world.
Universities and colleges abound with exceptional people, across academia and the professional services, and these awards have always been underpinned by a belief that groundbreaking work can take place anywhere, irrespective of institutional size, focus, location or specific challenges – indeed, sometimes it’s those challenges that drive innovation.
The continuous growth of THE Awards Asia has been incredibly heartening. We appreciate all those who submit their proudest achievements year after year, but we know there are many more stories out there. We look forward to reading those, too, this year.
Key dates:
- 6 August 2026: Entries open
- 8 October 2026: Entries close
- 19 January 2027: Shortlisted announcement
- 21 April 2027: Winners announcement during a gala dinner ceremony at the THE Asia Universities Summit in India
Watch the 2026 highlights video