The ninth batch of the APIE Core Course kicked off on August 22 with more than 820 learners registered across 18 SOI Asia partner institutions in 11 economies (Bangladesh, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Myanmar, Malaysia, Nepal, Phillipines, Thailand, Timor Leste, and Vietnam) — the largest cohort since the course was launched.
The first of six APIE e-Workshops brought together more than 440 participants for onboarding, introductions, and interactive activities. Supported by 14 Teaching Assistants (TAs), learners joined small-group discussions exploring a simple but fundamental question: What makes a good Internet connection?
The conversations went beyond Internet speed, touching on connection stability, network performance during peak hours, Internet Service Providers, and even the potential use of AI in the industry.
The start of Batch 9 also highlights the growing role of former APIE participants in supporting new learners. In the weeks leading up to the course, TAs organized local information sessions at their home institutions, shared their APIE experiences, involved other alumni, helped students with enrollment, and established local communication groups to support participants throughout the course.
All 14 TAs supporting Batch 9 began their own APIE journeys as learners. Today, they are helping a new group take its first steps — sharing their knowledge and experience while strengthening connections within their local communities.
As the largest APIE Core Course cohort begins its journey, the months ahead will bring new knowledge, challenges, connections, and opportunities — and perhaps, among today’s learners, some of APIE’s future TAs and contributors.
Read the full story on the APIE website: https://apie.soi.asia/2026/08/22/growing-together-the-apie-community-welcomes-its-largest-batch-yet