SUBANG JAYA, 24 February 2025: The ASEAN Student Mobility Programme continues to serve as a key catalyst in strengthening regional education networks through the ASEAN Education Forum 2025 (AEF 2025), which took place for two days here.
The 14-day programme, organised in collaboration with Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM), provided a platform for 500 mobility students from Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and Timor-Leste to engage in cross-border academic experiences.
Throughout the programme, participants took part in various activities, including the ‘Young Speaker’ competition, innovation project challenges, and academic visits to higher education institutions in Malaysia.
This initiative not only strengthens ties among ASEAN students but also fosters critical and innovative thinking within the region’s younger generation.
In his opening speech, the Minister of Higher Education, Dato’ Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir, emphasised the crucial role of student mobility in strengthening regional integration.
“This programme not only promotes knowledge and cultural exchange, but also empowers universities to serve as catalyst for innovation and social and economic development within ASEAN,” he said.
The forum also witnessed the signing of more than 20 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) among ASEAN universities, aimed at enhancing academic collaboration and facilitating cross-border research.
In addition, a roundtable session chaired by Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) was held to deliberate on the future of ASEAN higher education in the context of the digital and globalised era.
Among those in attendance were the Director-General of Higher Education, Prof. Datuk Dr. Azlinda Azman; Chief Executive Officer of Education Malaysia Global Services (EMGS), Mr. Novie Tajuddin; the Vice-Chancellor of Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM), Prof. Dato’ Dr. Mohd Foad Sakdan; and the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and International) of UUM, Prof. Dr Mohd Azizuddin Mohd Sani.
With more than 90 exhibitors from ASEAN Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and over 5,000 visitors, including academics, policymakers, and industry experts, AEF 2025 underscores Malaysia’s commitment to strengthening the region’s position as a world-class education hub.
The ASEAN Student Mobility Programme, recognised as a pivotal initiative within this forum, is expected to create further opportunities for high-impact academic and research collaborations, thus ensuring the continued excellence of higher education in ASEAN.
