Bridging Borders: HSE University and Global Partners Champion Social Entrepreneurship at APAIE 2025
At this year’s prestigious Asia-Pacific Association for International Education (APAIE) Conference in Delhi, the Higher School of Economics (HSE University) in Saint Petersburg, in collaboration with Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) and Universidad Panamericana (Mexico), unveiled their bold vision for transforming higher education’s role in global social entrepreneurship.
Delhi, March 28, 2025 — At this year’s prestigious Asia-Pacific Association for International Education (APAIE) Conference in Delhi, the Higher School of Economics (HSE University) in Saint Petersburg, in collaboration with Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) and Universidad Panamericana (Mexico), unveiled their bold vision for transforming higher education’s role in global social entrepreneurship.
Under the theme “Cultivating Global Citizens for the Future: The Higher Education Imperative in the Asia Pacific and Beyond,” the HSE-led panel session titled “Bridging Boundaries through Satellite Laboratories” drew international attention for showcasing an innovative model of cross-border collaboration.
Maria Kiseleva, Head of HSE’s International Office, opened the session by highlighting how satellite laboratories are emerging as vital hubs for addressing global social, environmental, and economic challenges. These labs create spaces for students and researchers to co-design solutions that transcend traditional academic boundaries.
A highlight of the session was the presentation by Dr. Magdalena Alejandra Gaete Sepúlveda, Head of the Laboratory for Reputation Management in Education at HSE, who detailed the impact of the Satellite Laboratory for Social Entrepreneurship — a collaborative platform operational since 2023 with UTM’s Azman Hashim International Business School. The lab’s ongoing research maps the social entrepreneurship ecosystems of Russia, Malaysia, and now Mexico, assembling unprecedented databases and producing policy-relevant insights for sustainable development.
Key figures presented included over 10,000 Russian, 388 Malaysian, and 5,159 Mexican social enterprises that have already been documented. Dr. Gaete stressed that these findings are not just academic: “Our students directly engage with social start-ups, assessing transparency, sustainability, and community impact. They become real change agents, learning by doing.”
Associate Professor Dr. Suresh Ramakrishnan from UTM elaborated on the laboratory’s structure and its role in capacity building and policy advocacy, while Associate Professor Maria Anityasari from Indonesia’s ITS highlighted future expansion and the goal of scaling this model across other fast-growing economies.
The collaboration has already resulted in joint scientific publications, masterclasses in Kuala Lumpur and Saint Petersburg, and visits by high-level delegations, including Malaysia’s Minister of Higher Education. As Dr. Gaete emphasized, “By bridging research, teaching, and service learning, we not only empower students but also strengthen the social mission of our institutions.”
The session concluded with an interactive Q&A, during which panelists exchanged practical advice on overcoming institutional barriers and fostering sustainable international partnerships. Audience members lauded the initiative as a blueprint for universities striving to blend global engagement with local impact.
As APAIE 2025 closes, the Satellite Lab partners stand poised to expand their network — an inspiring testament to the power of academia to cultivate globally minded, socially responsible citizens.
