The Institute of Certified Forensic Accountants Asia Pacific (ICFA Asia Pacific) expanded its international engagement through its participation in the UI GreenMetric 2026 Results & Awards Ceremony, held from September 23 to 25, 2026, at the Azerbaijan State Oil and Industry University (ASOIU) in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Hosted by ASOIU, the international gathering brought together university leaders, academics, sustainability experts and institutional representatives from different countries. The program combined the announcement of the 2026 UI GreenMetric World University Rankings with panel discussions, workshops and networking activities designed to encourage international cooperation. ASOIU

According to ASOIU, the event also created opportunities for participating institutions to establish new international relationships. Meetings were held with delegations from universities and organizations representing Türkiye, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, the Philippines, Pakistan, Ethiopia and Iraq, as well as ICFA Asia Pacific.

Among the institutions involved in the discussions were Istanbul Yeni Yüzyıl University, Bandırma 17 Eylül University, Istanbul Kültür University and Bingöl University from Türkiye; Toraighyrov University from Kazakhstan; Kimyo International University in Tashkent from Uzbekistan; Jalal-Abad International University from Kyrgyzstan; Universiti Kebangsaan from Malaysia; Sorsogon State University from the Philippines; Northern University from Pakistan; Kabridahar University and Haramaya University from Ethiopia; and Al-Kitab University, Al-Qalam University and the University of Kirkuk from Iraq.

Expanding the CrFA International Network

For ICFA Asia Pacific and CrFA India, the gathering provided an opportunity to establish direct contacts with universities from different countries and explore potential areas for future academic and professional cooperation.

ICFA Asia Pacific administers the Certified Forensic Accountant (CrFA) professional designation in the Asia-Pacific region. Through CrFA India, the Institute is expanding opportunities for professionals and students in India to develop specialized competencies in forensic accounting and related fields.

International university partnerships can support this effort by creating potential opportunities for professional certification, student pathways, faculty development, research collaboration, joint educational programs and other academic initiatives.

The Azerbaijan gathering was particularly valuable because it brought together institutions that may not ordinarily meet within the same academic network.

The official UI GreenMetric program was designed not only around university sustainability rankings but also around international exchange. Sessions covered university governance and accountability, sustainability education, digital sustainability, artificial intelligence, collaboration between universities and industry, and the future of higher education. ASOIU

UI GreenMetric itself has developed into a large international university network. According to its chair, the initiative had expanded from 95 universities in 35 countries when it began in 2010 to 1,745 universities across 105 countries in its 2025 rankings. ASOIU

New Opportunities for Cooperation

ASOIU said the networking environment surrounding the event helped participating institutions explore new partnerships and contributed to cooperation initiatives involving nearly 20 local and foreign institutions.

For ICFA Asia Pacific, these relationships could eventually extend beyond participation in international conferences. They can provide a foundation for discussions with universities interested in professional education and qualifications in forensic accounting.

This is particularly relevant as organizations place greater emphasis on areas such as fraud detection, financial investigation, governance, accountability and financial integrity. Universities can provide the academic foundation, while professional certification can help students and practitioners develop more specialized competencies for professional practice.

For CrFA India, participation in the international network also supports the broader development of the Certified Forensic Accountant program by connecting it with universities and institutions outside India.

The UI GreenMetric 2026 gathering therefore represented more than an international event for ICFA Asia Pacific. It provided another avenue to develop relationships that could lead to future academic cooperation, professional certification initiatives and international educational partnerships.

As CrFA India continues to develop its network, these international connections can help extend the reach of Certified Forensic Accountant education and certification to a wider community of students, academics and professionals.