Malaysia Eyes Regional Hub Role For Future Technology Creators
JAKARTA, July 16 (Bernama) -- Malaysia aims to position itself as ASEAN's hub for developing future technology creators, as it seeks to help the region shift from being a consumer of imported technologies to an innovator driving its own digital future.
Higher Education Ministry Secretary-General Dr Aminuddin Hassim said Malaysia was well placed to realise that ambition, backed by its technology-focused universities, expanding research capabilities, strong emphasis on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), as well as its ability to attract international students.
He said the region's future competitiveness depends on producing home-grown technologies instead of relying on innovations developed elsewhere.
"For too long, we have merely been consumers of technology, relying on innovations developed by advanced and Western countries.
"The time has come for us, as one regional community, especially since we all place strong emphasis on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). Tomorrow, technology should originate from our own countries, from this regional family, and we will no longer remain just consumers," he told Bernama.
Aminuddin said students pursuing higher education in Malaysia would not only gain academic knowledge but also exposure to emerging industries and technologies as the country continues to attract investments in high-value sectors.
He said Malaysian universities have developed specialised expertise in strategic technology fields, including Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) and Universiti Malaya (UM) in engineering and technology, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) in vaccine development, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) in nuclear technology, and Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Malaysia (UIAM) in aerospace.
He said attracting students from across ASEAN was not merely about increasing international enrolment, but about creating an academic ecosystem that fosters the exchange of ideas, collaborative research and the development of future technologies.
"I expect that if they are able to study here, they will be able to exchange ideas. Beyond limiting our perspectives to Malaysia alone, we will welcome more international students and provide a platform for sharing knowledge and viewpoints," he said.
Aminuddin said ASEAN's population of about 680 million, with its predominantly young demographic, provides a strong foundation for producing future innovators, entrepreneurs and technology creators capable of driving long-term economic growth.
The vision was echoed during the Malaysia Higher Education Seminar 2026 organised by Education Malaysia Indonesia earlier this week, where Aminuddin called for Malaysia and Indonesia to deepen collaboration in technology-focused education by leveraging each other's academic strengths to prepare talent for emerging industries and advance regional innovation.
"As strategic partners in human capital development, both neighbouring countries must remain committed to building sustainable long-term cooperation, supporting the development of talent that meets future needs, and strengthening Malaysia–Indonesia ties as a pillar of regional stability and progress," he said.
Malaysia currently hosts about 12,000 Indonesian students, while Education Malaysia Global Services (EMGS) recorded 159,138 international students in the country in 2025, including 56,565 studying at public universities, with Indonesian students forming the second-largest international student cohort after China.
-- BERNAMA
