The ASEAN Universities Exhibition and Forum 2025 (AEF2025), held in Kuala Lumpur, brought together regional stakeholders to strengthen higher education collaboration and foster meaningful partnerships.
At the forum, delegates heard from Dr. Zambry Abd Kadir, Malaysia’s Minister of Higher Education, who shared his vision for Malaysia and the broader region.
Having assumed the rotating ASEAN chairmanship in January 2025, Zambry highlighted Malaysia’s role as a bridge between ASEAN universities, governments, and industries, emphasizing the importance of keeping education at the heart of regional progress.
A former international student himself, Zambry stressed the significance of digital transformation and the integration of AI as the higher education sector evolves. His vision focuses on continuous upskilling, creating a sustainable and inclusive education system, and fostering stronger collaboration between academia and industry to better prepare graduates for the changing global landscape.
“Over the past decades, ASEAN universities have gained global recognition. Institutions in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia are now ranked among the best, with others making significant strides in catching up”, he said.
“Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand are establishing themselves as higher education hubs, attracting students from across the region and beyond. ASEAN universities are producing world-class research in science, technology, business, and the humanities, offering localised solutions to global challenges.”
“While this progress is commendable, we must work together to ensure that ASEAN universities remain competitive amidst the rise of global education giants,” the minister warned.
The minister extended his “deepest gratitude” to organisers Education Malaysia Global Services (EMGS) and the Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia (MoHE), for their “unwavering commitment” in making AEF2025 event a reality.
A key highlight of the forum was the launch of the ASEAN Student Mobility Program, in collaboration with Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) and 13 esteemed Malaysian universities. The hybrid event gathered students and industry leaders across ASEAN to carry out activities designed to foster innovation, leadership, and collaboration, while addressing regional challenges and advance the Sustainable Development Goals.
Student mobility was a key theme in Zambry’s address, particularly intra-regional mobility.
“Countries like Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia are increasingly becoming preferred destinations for students from neighbouring nations, enriching the academic landscape and fostering a stronger sense of ASEAN solidarity”, he said, pledging to advocate for policies that facilitate seamless student movement, establish mutual recognition of academic credits across ASEAN institutions, and enhance government support for mobility programs.
