MALAYSIA AND INDONESIA JOIN FORCES TO STRENGTHEN HIGHER EDUCATION

JAKARTA, Oct 31 (Bernama) -- Malaysia’s Ambassador to Indonesia, Datuk Syed Mohamad Hasrin Tengku Hussin, paid a courtesy call on Indonesia’s Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology, Prof Brian Yuliarto, on Thursday to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the field of higher education between both countries.

The visit reflects Malaysia’s continued commitment, through the Higher Education Ministry (MOHE) and Education Malaysia Indonesia (EMI), to reinforce regional higher education networks and enhance both nations’ roles as key drivers of human capital development and innovation in Southeast Asia.

In a statement, EMI said five key agendas were discussed, including the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Malaysian and Indonesian governments through their respective higher education ministries, covering cooperation between universities in academic mobility, joint research, international seminars, and curriculum recognition.

Another agenda item was the establishment of the Malaysia-Indonesia Academic Consortium (KAMI), as a strategic platform to strengthen academic collaboration in areas such as green technology, artificial intelligence (AI), health, and renewable energy.

“The consortium will also enhance academic and postgraduate student mobility and support the establishment of a Malaysia-Indonesia Regional Centre of Excellence (CoE),” EMI said.

Both sides also explored opportunities to expand cooperation in research and innovation, including in nuclear energy, aerospace, and AI, while strengthening the participation of an additional 15 Malaysian public universities in the scholarship list of Indonesia’s Education Fund Management Institution (LPDP) under the Ministry of Finance.

“EMI has observed growing interest among Indonesian students to pursue studies in Malaysia. With the inclusion of 15 more Malaysian public universities in the LPDP list, educational opportunities for Indonesian students will expand further, benefiting both nations,” the statement said.

Syed Mohamad Hasrin also invited Brian to attend the Festival of Ideas 2025 in Putrajaya from Nov 4 to 8, which will bring together academic leaders, researchers, and policymakers from across the region to discuss the future of higher education and science.

Brian welcomed all the proposals presented and expressed hope that the strong Malaysia-Indonesia partnership in higher education, science, and technology will continue to be strengthened for the mutual benefit of both nations, according to EMI.

EMI is a unit under Malaysia’s Higher Education Ministry, responsible for promoting Malaysian higher education in Indonesia and enhancing educational cooperation between the two countries.

The ambassador was accompanied by Minister-Counsellor (Education) Dr Hasnul Faizal Hushin Amri, Education Adviser Shafieza Md Fadzil, Education Attachés Zulfadhli Hamzah and Aziz Bin Abdullah, EMI Marketing Officer Riska Astriani Pramita, and First Secretary of the Embassy Gobinath Nadaradjah during the visit.

-- BERNAMA