The Asia-Pacific region is attaining a greater global presence. Seen largely as an area of progress and growth, its recent development in higher education has been widely acknowledged. This is even more remarkable when compared with other non-Western societies. Modern higher education systems have been well established throughout the region. Over the last decades, most states have transformed their higher education systems from elite to mass form. With high R&D investment, research has continued to grow rapidly. Asia-Pacific societies now openly aspire to elevate some of their universities to world-class status. At the same time, higher education in the region faces a number of challenges. As private institutions have become key higher education providers in various societies in the region, one prominent issue is quality. Another key priority for most states in the region is to provide equal access to and equity in higher education. An additional notable concern is a growing gap between spiralling enrolment and plateauing public finances. Tracing the cultural roots of higher education systems in the region, this paper offers a panoramic view of higher education development in the Asia-Pacific region.