The Annual International Forum on Higher Education (AIFHE) has been successively held for 20 sessions by China Association of Higher Education (CAHE) since its inception in 2001. Founded in 1983, CAHE has developed into the largest, oldest and the most influential national academic organization of higher education. As a non-profit academic organization, it is an alliance of voluntary social organizations, institutions and professionals that are engaged in or support higher education.

AIFHE follows the principle of “serving the reform and development of higher education, the macro decision-makings of government authorities, the school running of colleges and universities and theoretical exploration in higher education” to conduct academic seminars to address theoretical and practical issues regarding higher education reform and development. It plays a positive role in facilitating the modernization of higher education, and becomes an international academic event recognized by experts and scholars of higher education. Now the brand effect has been formed, and attracted wide attention from domestic and foreign government agencies and stakeholders.

With the aim to cultivate and support new forces for the research of higher education, the “Doctoral Candidates Forum” has been set up since 2003 and has been held for 18 consecutive years. In order to promote the exchange of university presidents at home and abroad, the “University Presidents Forum” was established in 2020 AIFHE. 

Over the years, AIFHE has attracted top experts, scholars, university leaders and researchers from over 50 countries (regions) including the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Russia, Japan, South Korea, Pakistan, Thailand, South Africa as well as international organizations including World Federation of United Nations Associations (WFUNA), Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), International Association of University Presidents (IAUP), Association of Universities of Asia and the Pacific (AUAP). Up to now, the number of participants has exceeded 10,000.