Hear why an international approach to higher education research and teaching is vital to building a better future and solving global challenges. We speak to two academic experts to learn about effective institutional strategies to support internationalisation but also what key barriers prevent a more global academy. Lily Kong is president of Singapore Management University. She is the first women to lead an institute of higher education in Singapore. She took the helm in 2019 after three years as provost and prior to this she held senior management roles at the National University of Singapore. Manuel Barcia is the University of Bath’s pro-vice-chancellor (global) after moving from the University of Leeds in May 2025, where he was dean for Global Engagement and Chair of Global History in the School of History. For more advice and insight on this topic, browse our spotlight guide to teaching and researching across borders.