This introductory chapter places the theoretical foundation of the book in the context of the global disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, laying the foundation for the exploration of private education in the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) countries. The book argues that the pandemic has not only exacerbated the health crisis, but also deepened educational inequalities, highlighting the key role of education in social development and post-crisis recovery. The chapter emphasizes the need for innovative solutions and the growing importance of public-private partnerships in addressing pressing educational challenges. The chapter also introduces the scope and analytical framework of the book, which is set in the context of the RCEP agreement and adopts a micro-meso-macro analytical perspective. The book explores concepts such as educational globalization and regional economic integration in conjunction with four core research questions. The chapter proposes a typology based on socio-economic systems that classifies the private education landscape in RCEP member countries into five different types. The chapter concludes with an overview of the structure of the book: Part A focuses on the Oceania region, Part B on East Asia, and Part C on Southeast Asia, before concluding with a concluding synthesis in Chap. 14 .