Malaysia, Indonesia boost edu ties

The Star

2 days ago

One for the album: Anesee (second from left) with (from left) EMGS chief executive officer Novie Tajuddin, Indonesian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur education and cultural attaché Prof Dr Muhammad Firdaus, and Education Malaysia Indonesia director Dr Hasnul Faizal Hushin Amri during the 'Mega Ayo Kuliah di Malaysia 2025' programme.
ARTIFICIAL intelligence (AI), renewable energy technology, and aerospace are among the strategic fields in which Malaysian lecturers and students can expect to collaborate with their Indonesian counterparts.
This was one of the key areas of cooperation agreed upon during Higher Education Ministry secretary-general Datuk Dr Anesee Ibrahim's recent visit to the neighbouring country.
In addition to research collaborations and lecturer or student mobility, partnerships between higher education institutions (HEIs) will also continue to be strengthened, building upon existing collaborations.
During the two-day working visit, which began on July 11, Anesee attended programmes, meetings and courtesy calls with his counterparts, creating new opportunities for bilateral cooperation between the two nations.
The visit was part of the ministry's efforts to strengthen cooperation among regional countries to position Malaysia as a preferred destination for international students.
The Higher Education Ministry, in its statement dated July 13, said Indonesia is among the top countries sending students to Malaysia, with 11,293 students as of March this year.
It added that as of December 2024, a total of 464 collaboration agreements had been signed between Malaysian and Indonesian HEIs, including capacity-building programmes involving student and academic mobility.
'The Malaysia International Scholarship (MIS) is also offered to international students pursuing studies in Malaysian HEIs. As of December 2024, 21 Indonesian students had received this scholarship.
'Education Malaysia Global Services (EMGS), an agency under the ministry, plays a significant role in promoting Malaysia's higher education sector and continues to intensify its marketing and promotional efforts,' the statement read.
During his visit, Anesee also attended the 'Mega Ayo Kuliah di Malaysia 2025' programme, held in Jakarta on July 12, with the participation of 21 Malaysian HEIs.
In his speech, Anesee welcomed more Indonesian students to Malaysia and highlighted several significant initiatives, such as the Graduate Pass – a one-year visa facility for graduates – launched at the Asean Higher Education Ministers' Roundtable Conference in Langkawi in June.
Other initiatives include the Asean Global Exchange for Mobility and Scholarship (Asean Gems), an online platform providing information on scholarships offered by Asean countries.
To date, over 300 scholarship providers have joined the platform, with a commitment of more than RM19mil in funding available for students to pursue higher education.
The ministry said a continuously evolving education system that meets current needs and high-quality HEIs that have earned international recognition are the main factors attracting international students to Malaysia.
'The ministry is confident that efforts to promote Malaysia as a preferred destination for international students will help enhance the country's global image.
'The ministry's internationalisation policy for higher education, aligned with current needs, will also position Malaysia to compete globally in line with the principles of Malaysia Madani, namely sustainability, prosperity, innovation and confidence,' the statement read.