Malaysia, China urged to build distinctive, competitive higher education system amid global shifts
Prof Yue Haiyang (fifth right), Frankie Liew (fourth right) with the USST delegates and SCCC members.
KOTA KINABALU (June 11): Malaysia, China and Southeast Asian countries must work together to build a higher education system that possesses its own characteristics and international competitiveness, said Sabah China Chamber of Commerce (SCCC) president Datuk Frankie Liew.
He said this system should cultivate future talents with a global outlook, rooted in their own culture and wisdom, to lead regional development.
'We must build our own educational confidence and cultural strength,' he emphasized during a recent dialogue with vice president of the University of Shanghai for Science and Technology (USST), Professor Yue Haiyang.
Liew noted that the recent incident in the United States, where Harvard University revoked the visas of some international students, has sparked global concern about the freedom and inclusiveness of American education. This situation has made China and Southeast Asian countries realize more deeply that only by improving the quality of their own higher education and establishing independent academic systems and education brands can they ensure sustainable talent development.
He believes that in the current global transformation of higher education — triggered by the US's increasing exclusion of international students — strengthening educational cooperation between Malaysia and China holds significant strategic importance.
During a recent visit to Sabah, Prof Yue paid a special visit to the SCCC and held cordial and in-depth discussions with Liew and its members on the development of international education cooperation.
Recently, USST and Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) officially signed two memorandums of understanding (MOUs) to launch a short-term student exchange program between their respective business schools. Each university will select 50 students to participate in short-term academic programs at the partner institution.
It is noted that USST had already begun initial exchanges last year, sending students to Sabah to experience the local academic and living environment, laying a strong foundation for this collaboration.
Liew praised the cooperation between USST and UMS, noting that it would enhance academic exchanges and the sharing of research achievements in business and related fields. It will also deepen and broaden inter-university collaboration, and help raise the academic reputation and visibility of UMS on the international stage.
He warmly welcomed USST's decision to partner with UMS. 'Sabah not only has a multicultural society, beautiful natural ecology, and a stable and safe social environment, but also increasingly developed higher education infrastructure and an internationalization strategy, making it an ideal platform for international education cooperation.'
He believes that this partnership will help improve the quality of education and research at both universities and promote the development of Sabah's international education industry.
According to statistics, the global education and training market is currently valued at around USD 7.5 trillion, and it is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 6% to reach approximately USD 10 trillion by 2027. It is expected to continue to grow steadily over the next decade.
'Education is no longer just about cultivating talent — it has become an essential part of national strength and economic development,' Liew noted.
He also expressed hope that USST and UMS will continue to expand their collaboration to include joint research, education and training programs, and the commercialization of research outcomes. Together, they can explore new areas and markets in higher education cooperation.
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