Malaysia, Central Asia To Strengthen Higher Education Cooperation

By Nazira Hasanah Nasaruddin

ASTANA, Sept 25 (Bernama) -- Malaysia and Central Asian countries are set to strengthen cooperation in higher education through the inaugural Malaysia-Central Asia Ministerial Higher Education Meeting to be held here.

The Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) said the meeting of higher education ministers on Sept 26 would provide an avenue for more structured cooperation between Malaysian higher education institutions (IPTs) and those in that region.

It said Higher Education Minister Dr Zambry Abd Kadir would attend the meeting during his three-day working visit to Astana, Kazakhstan, beginning Friday.

According to the ministry, Central Asia has a rich scholarly tradition, while the region’s emerging potential in the education sector should be explored together.

“This meeting is an initial step towards connecting the strengths of Malaysian universities, researchers and younger generations with the region,” it said in a statement.

During the visit, Zambry is also scheduled to participate in the Malaysia-Central Asia Higher Education Forum 2026, which brings together leaders and representatives of higher education institutions to discuss, among other things, student and academic staff mobility, research collaboration, and university linkages that can bring mutual benefits.

Zambry is also scheduled to receive an honorary professorship from L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, in addition to delivering a public lecture at the university.

According to the MOHE, as of June, some 3,726 students from five Central Asian countries - Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan - were pursuing their studies at public and private higher education institutions in Malaysia.

The ministry said the visit reflected its commitment to expanding Malaysia’s international higher education networks and building long-term cooperation with Central Asian countries.

-- BERNAMA