The United States Agency for International Development's (USAID's) Bureau for Asia conducted a strategic review to examine the depth and breadth of USAID higher education (HE) programming in Asia over the five-year period from 2016 through 2021. The review highlights ways in which USAID's HE programming has been a vehicle for all sectors, not only education, to achieve USAID development objectives. The review's findings and recommendations should inform continued USAID HE investment in Asia. USAID investments in HE support the 2022 lndo-Pacific Strategy (IPS). Within USAID and the interagency, there is a growing interest in HE programming opportunities. This recognition of the role of HE in driving economic development is reflected in its inclusion in the lndo-Pacific Strategy of the United States (White House, 2022), which highlights education as key to regional economic prosperity and security, as well as regional resilience to transnational threats. Unlike in previous strategies, HE is now explicitly noted in the 2022 version of the strategy as a vehicle to advance the United States Government's (USG's) vision for a "free and open lndo-Pacific" (p. 6). This review details examples of how USAID HE investments could support the IPS by countering malign influence, strengthening democratic systems, conducting cutting-edge research to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, and building diverse and equitable partnerships between U.S. and Asian partners. USAID is forging lasting transpacific partnerships through HE investments. In 2021, this engagement included partnerships among 270 higher education institutions (HEls) from across the region and with more than 20 HEls from across the U.S. Programs are aligned with USAID's Education Policy and achieving outcomes in all USAID sectors by "advancing knowledge and research; providing quality and relevant education and workforce training; and engaging and strengthening networks and communities" (Dockser et al., 2020, p. 5) in food security and agriculture; democracy, governance, and human rights; peace and security; economic growth and workforce development; and global health. These investments are advancing locally led development, producing the next generation of leaders, laying the groundwork for more resilient economies and future trade partners, and sustainably advancing American values in a region wary of malign influence.

With USAID support, Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in the U.S. and throughout Asia are helping to advance the U.S. Government’s (USG) most critical priorities for the region. USAID’s Office of Technical Services within the Asia Bureau conducted a Strategic Review to examine the depth and breadth of USAID HE projects in Asia over the last five years (2016-2021).The purpose was to help inform future programming and provide recommendations for policy makers on how to enhance the potential of HEIs as development partners. The review found that USAID’s significant investments in HE in Asia have proven crucial to fostering innovation across sectors, supporting economic and social opportunities for individuals at national and local levels and creating systemic change. Across the region, there are numerous examples of U.S. and local HEIs aligning research priorities and resources around the most pressing development challenges — from countering malign influence and strengthening democratic systems, to conducting cutting-edge research to fight COVID-19 and other public health threats, to improving natural resource management and fostering resilience to climate change. In 2021, USAID partnered with 270 HEIs from across the Asia region and with more than 20 U.S. HEIs, and engaged thousands of individuals as well as the private sector.