APSSA - Introduction

Introduction

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Introduction

Who We Are

The Asia Pacific Student Services Association (APSSA) is an international organization promoting global collaboration among student affairs professionals and offices. Represented by 37 institutional members across 10 countries, APSSA has a distinctive focus on the Asia Pacific region.

What We Do

APSSA creates networking and development opportunities to:

Enhance liaison and collaboration between staff across the Asia Pacific region, and
Strengthen the cultural understanding and develop inter-cultural skills.
Assist in developing and raising the awareness of student affairs practices to strengthen their role in tertiary education development.
Promote the important role that student welfare and development plays in contributing to well-rounded and successful students.

APSSA also provides its member institutions with outstanding opportunities to organize global mobility activities. A student focused learning program held as part of APSSA’s International Conferences provides a form for building inter-cultural competencies, understanding, global citizenry and personal and professional capabilities.

The biennial APSSA conference plays a large part in achieving these goals by bringing together student affairs professionals and student leaders to exchange ideas and views on evolving student needs in tertiary education.

History and Governance

In 1988, the Hong Kong Student Services Association, which was established in 1984, decided to convene an Asia Pacific student affairs conference. The objective was to provide an opportunity for student affairs workers in the region to know more about and to learn from each other. The overwhelming response to the first conference led to the establishment of the association in July 1988 to meet the professional development needs of practitioners in the field of Student Affairs. One of the original founders of APSSA, Mr Luke Wong, was the first President of APPSA and served as President for two terms, 1988–1992 and 1998-2000.

The management of the Association is governed by the Constitution.

Past Presidents

2021 – 2023: Dr. Jonathan Munro, Australia

2018 – 2020: Ms. Angela Pok, Malaysia

2016 – 2018: Assoc. Prof. Amnat Yousukh, Thailand

2014 – 2016: Prof. Keiji Hata, Japan

2012 – 2014: Dr. Maria Paquita D. Bonnet, Philippines

2010 – 2012: Mr. Chris Hepperlin, Australia

2008 – 2010: Prof. Ouyang Kang, People’s Republic of China

2006 – 2008: Assoc. Prof. Tan Teck Koon, Singapore

2004 – 2006: Dr. Janjira Wongkhomthong , Thailand

2002 – 2004: Mr K. Puniamurthy, Malaysia

2000 – 2002: Dr. Manuel M. Tejido, Philippines

1998 – 2000: Mr Luke Wong, Hong Kong

1996 – 1998: Dr. Bryan Burke, Australia

1994 – 1996: Prof. Charas Suwenwela, Thailand

1992 – 1994: Dr. Enoch Markum, Indonesia

1988 – 1990: Mr Luke Wong, Hong Kong