SPEECH

YB DATUK TS. MUSTAPHA SAKMUD
DEPUTY MINISTER OF HIGHER EDUCATION MALAYSIA

ASEAN (MALAYSIA)- CHINA HIGHER EDUCATION FORUM AND HSK STUDY IN CHINA: EDUCATION & CAREER EXPO 2024

23 MARCH 2024

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Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen.

Assalamualaikum Warahmatulahi Wabarakatuh and a very good morning.

[OPENING REMARKS]

1. First and foremost, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the ASEAN China Centre for the invitation and opportunity to speak today at ASEAN (Malaysia)- China Higher Education Forum and HSK Study In China: Education & Career Expo 2024.

2. I would also like to extend my heartfelt appreciation for all your presence today, either from Malaysia or all the way from the People’s Republic of China.

3. Our event today signifies our strong bilateral and multi- lateral cooperation between Malaysia, China and ASEAN China Center in working together for greater good.

[MALAYSIA-CHINA-ASEAN COOPERATION]

4. In this challenging world, it is crucial to foster international education cooperation to shape a more promising future for everyone.

5. This underscores the notion that education is not solely a national concern but also a shared global responsibility.

6. With the participations of more than 100 universities from both countries, it is hoped that this event would be a great platform for us to enhance knowledge exchange and learn from each other’s experience and best practices.

7. Malaysia recognizes China as one of the most important partners in the field of higher education.

8. We commend China’s effort on enhancing people-to- people exchanges and higher education cooperation through bilateral engagement and also through multilateral platforms such as ASEAN.

9. Each year, Ministry of Higher Education participated in ASEAN-China Education Cooperation Week (CAECW) and benefitted from scholarship opportunities such as the
ASEAN-China Young Leaders Scholarship Program (ACYLS).

10. Therefore, as we celebrated our 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations this year, we are committed to strengthening cooperation in higher education between Malaysia and China.

11. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Malaysia and People’s Republic of China in Higher Education is at final stage and will be signed this year

Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,

[MALAYSIA’S HIGHER EDUCATION LANDSCAPE]

12. Malaysia's higher education has undergone a significant development.

13. Currently, we have about 1.2 million students under the purview of the Ministry of Higher Education.

14. These students come from 20 public universities, 388 private higher education institutions, 105 community colleges and 36 polytechnics.

15. The Polaris of Malaysia’s higher education is the Malaysia Education Blueprint for Higher Education 2015-2025.

16. Alongside the blueprint, we also have an Internationalisation Policy for Higher Education, acts as an important role in ensuring the successful implementation of the higher education landscape.

17. In our pursuit of establishing Malaysia as a regional and global education hub, we align with three (3) objectives, focused on creating a talent and knowledge hub. These objectives encompass the development of:
1. outstanding education and training hub,
2. concentration of niche expertise, and
3. leading research and innovation clusters.

18. Therefore, we are committed to strengthening cooperation and reducing barriers in higher education sector with our international counterparts.

19. Malaysia currently hosts 131,000 international students and we target to welcome 250,000 international students by 2030.

20. Several prominent factors that attract international students to pursue their study in Malaysia are such as the world class education, safe and peaceful communities, multi-cultural society, strategically located and vibrant economies.

21. We are also proud to say that Malaysian universities have demonstrated commendable performance in various rankings.

22. In the QS World University Rankings 2023, we have one university listed in the top 100 and 4 out of our 5 research universities are listed in the top 200.

23. As a result, this enhances Malaysia's prominence in the realm of higher education and solidifies our standing as an international hub for higher education.

24. At the moment, we have about more than 40,000 international students from People’s Republic of China studying in Malaysia.

25. I take this opportunity to officially welcome graduate students and researchers from China to Malaysia and do their research as well as pursue their tertiary education here.

26. Likewise, we also look forward for more opportunities for Malaysian students to pursue their tertiary education in China.

Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen.

[CLOSING]

27. As we navigate the challenges of our time, cooperation transcending borders and differences is a necessity.

28. Collectively, we should harness our resources and synchronize our efforts in international education cooperation.

29. Thus, let us continue to build these bridges of cooperation, for the benefit of our nations and the world as a whole.

30. I wish everyone a productive and fruitful conference and expo.

31. With that, thank you and terima kasih.

Muat Turun:

  pdf Asean (Malaysia)- China Higher Education Forum And HSK Study In China: Education & Career Expo 2024 (107 KB)