Malaysia's Proposal For AEU's Credit Transfer System Accepted At ACD Meeting

By MOHD HAIKAL MOHD ISA BANGKOK, March 11 (Bernama) -- The 14th Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) Ministerial Meeting has agreed to Malaysia's proposal on the implementation of Asia Credit Transfer System (ACTS) for the Kuala Lumpur-based Asia e-University (AeU). Malaysian Foreign Minister Anifah Aman who tabled the proposal during the meeting said through the ACTS system students could have access to affordable and flexible learning programmes across Asia. "The ACTS will also bring greater mobility among students as well as facilitate better cooperation in various fields of e-learning," he said during the meeting here, Thursday. By making education as a priority he said, the 34-member countries in ACD could unlock new opportunities for its people, new human resources for its people and new growth for the nation. The AEU based in Kuala Lumpur said Anifah, was established in 2007 under the ambit of ACD and to date has enrolled more than 2,300 international students from 49 countries. Malaysia's proposal on the ACTS was among the 12 outcomes adopted by the ACD's ministerial meeting, which ended Thursday. The Foreign Minister also called for the transformation of AeU into one of the primary international education platforms for the 34-member states in the ACD. The private university he said, has established education partnerships with 25 countries, including non-ACD member states such as Denmark, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. Other points included in the chairman's statement which was read out by Thai Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai were on Kuwait's proposal for the mobilisation of US$2 billion (RM8 billion) for the establishment of an ACD Development Fund. He said the ACD called for experts to meet and discuss the establishment of the proposed fund, where Kuwait has pledged an initial contribution of US$300 million (RM1.2 billion). They also welcomed Thailand's proposal to host the Second ACD Summit, tentatively scheduled for Oct, in Bangkok. -- BERNAMA