Dhaka is hosting the 61st Asia Pacific Advanced Network Conference this week, bringing education and technology leaders from across the Asia-Pacific region together for discussions on advanced networking and intelligent education, organisers said.
The five-day conference began on Tuesday and will continue until 30 January. It is expected to attract between 300 and 500 participants, including international delegates representing national research and education networks, universities, vocational institutions and information and communications technology communities.
The event is jointly organised by the Asia Pacific Advanced Network, the Bangladesh Research and Education Network and the Higher Education Acceleration and Transformation project of the University Grants Commission. Organisers said the conference is designed to strengthen collaboration, knowledge exchange and innovation in research and education networking.
As part of the programme, technology company Huawei is hosting an Intelligent Education Seminar titled Huawei APAC Intelligent Education Roundtable 2026. Huawei is a major provider of digital infrastructure in Bangladesh’s education sector and is a patron of the conference.
The seminar will focus on accelerating digital transformation in higher education and addressing challenges related to teaching methods, administrative processes and campus infrastructure. Discussions are expected to examine the shift from traditional campus networks to artificial intelligence-ready research infrastructure, as well as the expanding role of artificial intelligence in university teaching, research and operations.
Huawei is also showcasing its Smart Campus and Smart Classroom solutions at an exhibition booth, highlighting practical applications of intelligent education technologies. A case study on BRAC University is being presented to demonstrate real-world implementation of Huawei networking solutions and smart classroom systems.
Organisers said hosting APAN61 positions Bangladesh as an active participant in regional research and education networking. They added that industry involvement alongside academic and policy stakeholders is expected to support the country’s drive towards a more connected, inclusive and future-ready education ecosystem.
