The Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU) is a consortium of 42 leading research universities in the Pacific Rim. The consortium aims to foster cooperation in education, research and enterprise thereby contributing to the economic, scientific and cultural advancement of the Pacific Rim. The mission of APRU is to promote scientific, educational and cultural collaboration among Pacific Rim economies. In both its objectives and guiding principles, APRU embodies a commitment to global academic and research standards. APRU recognizes that its activities can be powerful catalysts for expanding educational, economic and technological cooperation among the Pacific Rim economies. The association seeks to promote dialogue and collaboration between academic institutions in Pacific Rim economies so that they can become effective players in the global knowledge economy.