During her recent visit to Asian University for Women, AUW’s 2026 Commencement Speaker Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford Professor Irene Tracey (CBE, FRS), spoke with Prothom Alo, Bangladesh’s single largest circulating newspaper, reflecting on AUW’s mission, women’s leadership, and higher education.

In this conversation, Professor Tracey speaks to AUW’s impact and the transformative power of educating women from displaced and marginalized communities. She delves into women’s leadership, which she says must be paired with authenticity. She also reflects on the value of the humanities and social sciences and their role in the future of higher education.

We invite you to read this thoughtful interview:

Prothom Alo: “A woman in leadership doesn’t have to change and become like a man“