AIMS Programme Welcomes South Korea As Ninth Member

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 15 (Bernama) -- The 10th Review Meeting of the ASEAN International Mobility for Students (AIMS) programme today welcomed South Korea as the ninth member of the programme. Malaysian Higher Education Ministry deputy secretary-general Kamel Mohammad said the acceptance of South Korea into the programme was to recognise the importance of student mobility as an essential tool to bolster the East Asia Economic Community at the grassroots level. "This review meeting provides a setting for all participants to share information, address existing challenges, propose improvement for the programme and plan for greater expansion and further collaboration," he said in his speech at the launch of The 10th Review Meeting of the AIMS programme here Tuesday. The three-day event also provides a multilateral platform for the minister and higher education department executives to update progress, as well as consult and plan for future development of the AIMS programme. About 200 participants are attending the meeting which consists of participants from the ministry, Southeast Asian Minister of Education Organisation-Regional Centre for Higher Education and Development, and the university staff of the AIMS partner universities from Thailand, Indonesia, Brunei Darussalam, Philippines, Vietnam, Japan, Vietnam, Cambodia and Malaysia. The AIMS programme, formally known as M-I-T (Malaysian-Indonesia-Thailand) was initiated in 2009. It aims to create a vibrant student mobility programme of all Southeast Asian Minister of Education Organisation member countries. Some 578 outbound students from nine participating Malaysian universities and 547 inbound students from other ASEAN countries and Japan had participated in this programme since 2009. Kamel said: "Participating in a mobility programme can have immeasurable benefits for both the students and university, and more broadly for future employers. "An international study experience assists student in building international networks, increasing cross-cultural competency, foster independent thought and learning, and encourages individuals to step outside of their comfort zone." --BERNAMA