PUTRAJAYA FOI: HIGHER EDUCATION KEY TO DRIVING SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC PROGRESS - PANELISTS

PUTRAJAYA, Nov 5 (Bernama) -- Higher education is no longer just about producing graduates; it is now a driver of social, economic, and technological progress.

The message was highlighted at the Putrajaya Festival of Ideas (Putrajaya FOI) 2025 Ministerial Forum, titled “From Knowledge to Impact: Strengthening Higher Education Partnership”, moderated by Education Malaysia Global Services (EMGS) chief executive officer Novie Tajuddin.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof attended the session and delivered the keynote address on the second day of the Putrajaya FOI 2025.

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The panel featured Philippine Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Commissioner Dr. Shirley Agrupis, Indonesia’s Deputy Minister for Higher Education, Science and Technology Prof. Brian Yuliarto and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia’s Malaysian Inclusive Development and Advancement Institute (MINDA-UKM) director Professor Tan Sri Dr Noor Azlan Ghazali.

During the forum, Shirley said universities must go beyond teaching and research by applying knowledge that benefits society.

“Education should not stop at producing graduates. It must continue to create solutions that improve lives and uplift communities,” she said.

She added that innovation and sustainability are essential for universities to remain relevant and build future-ready generations

Shirley also called for stronger ASEAN cooperation in education, saying that countries in the region share common goals and can achieve more through joint programmes and cross-border recognition of qualifications.

“We can do more together than apart. Collaboration across ASEAN will strengthen our collective capacity in higher education,” she said.

Meanwhile, Brian said education is borderless and should be seen as a bridge for ASEAN nations to work together.

“Researchers already collaborate beyond borders. Science has no politics; it connects us,” he said.

He proposed that Malaysia expand the Putrajaya FOI to the ASEAN level, bringing together students, researchers and innovators to share ideas and research outcomes.

“An ASEAN-level Putrajaya FOI will give our young minds a platform to share ideas and innovations that can shape the region’s future,” he said.

Noor Azlan, meanwhile, stressed the importance of linking universities with industries, saying that industries must challenge universities to ensure graduates are equipped to solve real-world problems.

He noted that industries often express concerns about graduate readiness, while universities cite limited job opportunities.

“Both sides must sit together to align training with market needs,” he said.

With the theme ‘MADANI: Shaping the Future, Realising Ideas’, Putrajaya FOI 2025 is a whole-of-government initiative involving various ministries, agencies and industries to foster intellectual discourse and innovations for the public. 

--BERNAMA