External Partnerships

The DEC is a global community of practice dedicated to advancing sustainable innovation and responsible AI adoption in higher education and workforce development. 

DEC convenes education leaders through Executive Briefings, which provide monthly insights on the impact of technology on organisations and people, and through Thematic Working Groups, such as the AI and Assessment Workgroup, in which CTE participates, to support global knowledge exchange and the development of best practices in education innovation.

DEC also offers a certificate course on AI for Higher Education. Singapore Management University (SMU) has contributed to Module 5b, which focuses on AI for faculty.

Access Resources

To view reports and recordings from past Executive Briefings, log in to the global portal or visit our resource site.

APRU is a network of leading universities linking the Americas, Asia, and Australasia, bringing together thought leaders, researchers, and policy-makers to exchange ideas and collaborate on practical solutions to the challenges of the 21st century.

To address the opportunities and challenges facing global higher education in the era of digital intelligence, SMU is part of the Digital Intelligence International Development Education Alliance (DI-IDEA), established by Peking University together with nearly 30 universities in China and internationally.

Through DI-IDEA, SMU collaborates with partner institutions to strengthen inter-university cooperation, jointly address the challenges of digital intelligence, explore governance models for its use in education, and contribute academic insights and policy recommendations in support of inclusive and sustainable well-being.

The FOME Alliance is a global network of innovative business schools collaborating to create engaging and impactful learning experiences.

The Cyber-Physical Learning Alliance (CPLA) was started, both locally and internationally, as a collaborative initiative that brings together educational institutions and experts from around the world to advance the field of cyber-physical learning (CPL). 

CPL refers to teaching and learning environments where both remote (cyber) and in-person (physical) students can learn and interact effectively, seamlessly, and synchronously using a range of technologies such as immersive technologies (e.g., augmented/virtual/immersive realities, metaverse, gamification), telepresence robotics, learning analytics, artificial intelligence, and personalised learning​.

The Higher Education Research and Development Society of Australasia (HERDSA) is a scholarly society dedicated to advancing higher and tertiary education. Established in 1972, HERDSA promotes the development of higher education policy and practice, as well as research into teaching and learning. It also plays a key role in fostering strong academic communities across the region. The current HERDSA Constitution was adopted in 2017.

Singapore Management University (SMU) is co-organising the 2026 HERDSA Conference, to be held from 6–9 July 2026 at the National University of Singapore (NUS).

The AU AI Community of Practice (COP) was established in partnership with the Ministry of Education (MOE) as a platform for Singapore’s autonomous universities to consolidate AI and EdTech initiatives, and to share insights and practices in differentiated, technology-enhanced pedagogies. 

The community supports the exchange of strategies, implementation approaches, and ongoing AI and EdTech projects across local autonomous universities.

Initiated by the Ministry of Education in 2015, the NTEL Conference provides a platform for cross-institutional sharing and discussions on educational technology across institutions of higher learning in Singapore.