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Our Story

Built by People
Who've Been in
Your Shoes.

AppliedHE was born from two decades of experience inside higher education, not outside looking in.

We've sat in your meetings. We've seen what works and what doesn't. And we built AppliedHE to solve the problems that kept showing up again and again.

Traditional

The "Boardroom" Report

Expensive fees
Generic advice
Zero implementation
THE REALITY

What Universities
Actually Needed

Employability Proof

Employers demanding skills, not just degrees.

Real Alumni Power

Networks that deliver opportunities, not just newsletters.

Relevant Rankings

Metrics that reflect value, not just research.

Our Observation
How We Started

This Didn't Start in
a Boardroom.

AppliedHE was founded in 2020 by Mandy Mok, but the idea had been forming for almost twenty years.

After spending two decades working closely with Vice Chancellors, Rectors, Presidents, and even Ministers across Asia, Mandy noticed something troubling:

The same problems kept coming up. Over and over.

Universities struggling to prove employability. Alumni networks that existed on paper but delivered nothing. Graduates who had degrees but lacked the skills employers actually wanted. And rankings that didn't reflect what really mattered.

Meanwhile, traditional consulting offered expensive reports and generic recommendations, then disappeared. Smaller and private universities looked at those price tags and thought: "That's simply not an option."

So Mandy asked a different question:

"What if universities could access practical tools, real strategies, and hands-on support without paying a fortune?"

That question became AppliedHE.

The Company

A Singapore-Based
Partner for Asia's Universities

AppliedHE is a higher education company headquartered in Singapore. We work with public and private universities across Asia, from Indonesia to South Korea, the Philippines to India.

We're not a traditional consulting firm. We're not a software company. We're something different:

A strategic partner built by higher education professionals, for higher education professionals.

Our team combines deep sector expertise with practical tools that universities can actually use. We don't just diagnose problems, we help you solve them.

Headquarters
Singapore

What We Offer

Rankings

The AppliedHE Public & Private University Rankings (ASEAN and ALL ASIA)

Ratings

The JOB-Ready Rating for employability assessment and marketing

Tools

ALUMNI-Ready CRM and SOFT SKILLS-Ready micro-credentials

Community

The App.LE Club for university leaders and the annual Xchange conference

Platform

AppliedHE Vault for secure data management and submission

"Everything we build is designed to address real challenges, not theoretical ones."

Our Philosophy

What
Drives Us

These aren't just statements on a wall. They are the principles that guide every ranking we publish, every tool we build, and every partnership we form.

We believe private universities deserve the same spotlight as public institutions.

For too long, rankings have favored research-heavy public universities. We created separate rankings for public and private institutions because both sectors matter.

We believe rankings should reflect real student experiences, not just research output.

That's why student and alumni voices are at the core of everything we measure. Outcomes matter more than inputs.

We believe employability is the true measure of educational success.

Degrees are important. But what happens after graduation? That's what students, parents, and employers really care about.

We believe helping institutions improve shouldn't cost a kingdom.

Great tools and real support should be accessible, not just to the wealthiest universities, but to any institution committed to getting better.

We believe Asia's universities are ready to lead, and the world should know it.

Our rankings, ratings, and tools are built for this region, by people who understand it. We're here to amplify Asia's voice in global higher education.

Mandy Mok
Mandy Mok
Founder & CEO
20+
Years of
Experience
Leadership

Meet Mandy Mok

Mandy Mok is the Founder and CEO of AppliedHE. With more than two decades of experience in international university rankings and institutional improvement strategies, she is recognized across Asia for her expertise in global branding, marketing, and strategic consulting for higher education.

Before founding AppliedHE, Mandy worked directly with university leaders at the highest levels, advising on everything from rankings participation to institutional positioning. She saw firsthand what universities needed, and what the market wasn't providing.

AppliedHE is the result of that experience: practical, affordable, and built to make a real difference.

"I didn't want to build another consulting company that hands over a report and disappears. I wanted to build something that actually helps: tools universities can use, strategies they can implement, and a team that walks the journey with them."
Mandy Mok, Founder & CEO
Our Direction
Our Mission

Empowering Institutions
to Excel

We provide higher education institutions with practical tools, strategic insights, and hands-on support that enhance employability, strengthen engagement, and extend global reach. Our mission is to help universities amplify their impact locally and worldwide.

Our Vision

The Trusted Partner for Higher Education in Asia

We aim to be the go-to partner for universities seeking growth, innovation, and measurable success. Through rankings, ratings, and strategic tools, we're building an ecosystem where institutions, students, and employers all thrive.

Our Impact

The AppliedHE Footprint

300
Universities Ranked
41
Countries Covered
20+
Years of Experience
6
Ranking Dimensions
2020
Founded

Let's Shape the
Future Together

Whether you're looking to improve rankings, strengthen employability, or connect with peers, we're here to help.

Questions? Reach us at info@AppliedHE.com