Dear TIRF Board Members and Supporters,
Last week, I had the privilege of attending the University President’s Forum on Nurturing Talent and Talent Mobility in Asia, held in Tokyo, Japan. Approximately 30 university presidents from across Asia gathered to share best practices and generate ideas on this critical topic. One issue I raised, which was echoed by many others, concerns the importance of English in communication.
In my presentation, entitled “How to Maximize the Mobility of Talent in Asia?”, I emphasized that talent in Asia is spread across various regions, each with its own strengths and specialties. The diversity in culture, education, and economic development makes Asia a unique landscape for talent. There’s no doubt that Asia is a powerhouse when it comes to talent in fields like science, technology, finance, business, and education. However, there is always room to enhance the mobility and potential of that talent, particularly in such a dynamic and diverse region.
To maximize talent potential and facilitate mobility, I outlined several strategies that could be considered across the region:
- Improving Regional Collaboration and Integration
- Simplifying Work Visas and Mobility Policies
- Building Educational Pathways and Talent Pipelines
- Encouraging Entrepreneurial Mobility
- Promoting Digital Transformation and Remote Work
- Developing Regional Talent Databases and AI-Driven Matching Platforms
- Strengthening the Private Sector’s Role
- Inclusive Policy Making
- Promoting Cross-Cultural Competency, Including Language Competency
I further stressed that universities should prioritize cultural exchange programs to reduce cultural barriers to mobility. Governments and organizations can play a key role in promoting these programs to help individuals better understand different work cultures, business etiquette, and communication styles across Asia. Building cross-cultural competency will enable professionals to work more effectively in diverse teams and regions.
Moreover, universities should focus on providing language and soft-skills training for all students. Language remains a significant barrier to talent mobility within Asia. Governments or private entities could fund programs offering language learning and soft-skills training, particularly in English as a lingua franca, as well as other regionally significant languages such as Chinese, Hindi, or Korean.
By creating a more cohesive, connected, and flexible framework for talent development, Asia can unlock the full potential of its diverse and vibrant talent pool. In essence, prioritizing education, policy reform, infrastructure, digital transformation, and inclusivity could significantly enhance talent mobility and elevate Asia’s position as a global leader in innovation and development.
Furthermore, implementing these strategies would foster a truly integrated talent ecosystem where professionals are not only incentivized to move but also empowered to contribute to shared goals across the region. With better infrastructure, education, policy frameworks, and collaboration between the public and private sectors, Asia can transform into a global leader—not just economically, but in innovation, leadership, and development.
Looking ahead, my next trip will be to Long Beach, California, in mid-March. I look forward to meeting with my colleagues on the TIRF Board, as well as connecting with others in the field of TESOL. I invite you to attend TIRF’s presentation on Wednesday, March 19th from 3:00 to 4:30pm in room 104B of the Long Beach Convention Center – click here for more details. I hope to see you there!
Warm regards,
Jun Liu, PhD
TIRF President
