Latest news with #AseanHigherEducationMinisters'Roundtable
The Star
2 hours ago
- Politics
- The Star
Malaysia proposes Asean Institute
Hand-in-hand: Zambry (sixth from left) with other Asean Higher Education Ministers joining hands for a photo shoot before the start of the meeting in Langkawi. — ZHAFARAN NASIB/The Star. LANGKAWI: Malaysia has proposed establishing a dedicated Asean Institute for members of the region, says Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir. The Higher Education Minister said while some countries already have Asean-related research centres at the university level, there is currently no comprehensive institute that brings together the expertise of all Asean member states across various fields. 'Malaysia has offered to host this proposed Asean Institute. 'The rationale is that Malaysia possesses the necessary expertise, with institutions such as Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), particularly through the Institute of Malaysian and International Studies, already conducting studies on Asean and international affairs,' he said during a press conference after the Asean Higher Education Ministers' Roundtable: Envisioning the Next Decade and Beyond here yesterday. Zambry said following the discussions with the vice-chancellor of UKM, the proposal has been positively received. He said Malaysia will prepare a concept note to be shared with all Asean members, and the proposal will be submitted to the Asean Secretariat for consideration during the leaders' meeting scheduled for October in Kuala Lumpur. Zambry said another key development during the roundtable is the adoption of the Kuala Lumpur Declaration on Higher Education. He said the matter is highly significant for Asean's long-term vision toward 2045. 'The previous Kuala Lumpur Declaration on Higher Education was adopted in 2015, also in Kuala Lumpur. 'With that declaration reaching its 10-year term, a new framework is required to guide the future direction of Asean higher education,' he said, adding that all member states have officially adopted the declaration during the meeting. He said the new declaration, which covers 2025 to 2045, aligns with the broader Asean vision in 2045. In another development, Zambry said the Higher Education Ministry is working closely with the Foreign Ministry on the whereabouts of seven Malaysian students in Iran. 'During my recent visit to Iran few weeks ago, I was informed that there are about seven Malaysian students there. 'Although some of them may not be officially registered with our embassy, but as Malaysian citizens, we still have a responsibility to look after their well-being,' he said. He added that the ministry will continue to monitor their status and provide assistance as necessary. On Tuesday, the Foreign Ministry issued an advisory for all Malaysians in Iran to leave the country immediately due to the increasingly tense security situation following Israel's aggressive actions against Iran. In a statement, the ministry said the situation in Iran remains volatile and could deteriorate without prior warning. Tensions between Iran and Israel have escalated since last Friday following an unprovoked airstrike by Israel on Iranian territory, reportedly killing several senior military officials and scientists.
New Straits Times
12 hours ago
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Malaysia proposes Asean Institute to consolidate regional expertise
LANGKAWI: Malaysia has proposed the establishment of an Asean Institute to consolidate expertise across various fields among member countries in the region. Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr. Zambry Abdul Kadir said this proposal was among the topics discussed during the Asean Higher Education Ministers' Roundtable here today. "Although certain countries have conducted studies at their respective university levels, there isn't a more comprehensive institute for all Asean member states," he said at a press conference after the roundtable here today. He added that Malaysia has offered to host this Asean Institute, given the country's expertise, including through the Institute of Malaysian and International Studies (IKMAS) at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. Furthermore, he noted that the roundtable also discussed student and academic mobility within the region, including exchange programs that would allow foreign lecturers to teach at educational institutions in Malaysia. "Additionally, we also agreed to establish a body to manage scholarship matters, namely Asean-Gems. This platform will be utilised to seek financial resources among Asean member states to provide scholarships," he said. The Asean Global Exchange for Mobility and Scholarship (Asean-Gems) is a one-stop platform for information about regional scholarship and mobility programmes throughout the Asean region that was launched tonight. This initiative will, among other things, provide access to opportunities and scholarship offers for all Asean students, while also supporting regional integration by encouraging youth mobility and cross-border academic exchanges. Zambry further mentioned that other matters discussed included proposals to establish networks and collaborative platforms among Asean higher education institutions, and to ensure that all discussion outcomes are elevated to the Asean Heads of State Meeting in October. He also remarked that this roundtable successfully brought together all ministers, representatives, and senior education officials from member countries, receiving positive feedback from regional and international participants. Meanwhile, among the delegates, the Chairperson Commission on Higher Education (CHED) of the Philippines, Dr Shirley Castañeda Agrupis praised Malaysia's efforts in hosting the dialogue, calling it a valuable platform for benchmarking best practices and addressing regional challenges. She stressed the need for harmonising research agendas and recognising academic credentials across Asean member states. "We dream of borderless education, but without mutual recognition of curricula, student and faculty mobility remains limited," she noted. Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) Dr Salim Mohammed Al-Malik has praised Malaysia's commitment to education and innovation following a series of high level engagements during his visit to the 2025 Asean Ministers of Education and Higher Education Roundtables. Dr Al-Malik underscored the pivotal role of ISESCO in supporting its 53 member states including Malaysia as a founding member, in advancing education, science, and culture, particularly among developing nations. – BERNAMA
