Page 142 - VC Message

Leading with Purpose
Messages of the Vice Chancellor OP ED & RENCANA MEDIA

currently estimated at around US$19,028 by 2050. To achieve the target of 23% that can only be fully realised through
(RM80,631) — reforming education to renewable energy (RE) by 2025, the region quality education aligned with future
develop a new generation of skilled, requires an estimated US$27 billion in market and industry goals.
knowledge-driven youth will contribute annual investments. Sectors such as e-commerce, digital
to increasing purchasing power and This effort also calls for multidisciplinary finance and clean energy are projected to
expanding the region’s middle-class research programmes focused on energy- create over 10 million new jobs by 2030,
structure.
related ecosystems — including storage, opening new opportunities for universities
All ASEAN member states should aim for grid integration and sustainable materials in the region to collaborate further.
long-term, high-quality progress in higher — and strategic collaboration with industry The bloc’s collective population of nearly
education participation — a measure that through public–private partnerships to 700 million, youthful median age and
Malaysia, under the leadership of Higher pilot RE projects. rising GDP underscore the vast opening
Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Existing regional higher education ahead. Universiti Malaya is poised to
Abd Kadir has successfully advanced partnerships, including the ASEAN lead regional efforts in charting a new
through strategic foresight. This includes University Network (AUN), promote quality frontier of hope through these ventures
effectively utilising and nurturing both assurance, credit transfer and joint degree and opportunities, providing innovative
physical infrastructure and structural programs among member institutions. solutions and strength to the region, its
readiness, while developing human capital University of Malaya (UM) has been an people and humanity at large.
equipped with essential skill sets and a active partner in these initiatives — but
values-driven mindset. As universities across the region pool
this progress must not stop here. resources — both intellectual and
This new model of globalised higher Just as ASEAN seeks to elevate its role infrastructural — the outcome extends
education — rooted in regional and cultural and influence through progress across all beyond the region, shaping the future
contexts — fosters vibrant, well-rounded key indicators — beyond geographical and of new generations and, with them, the
capacity building, enabling ASEAN to fully ideological boundaries — regional higher future of the world.
harness the benefits of its demographic education partnerships must advance in
advantage, both at the national level and parallel with this new dynamism. Prof Datuk Seri Dr Noor Azuan
across the region. Abu Osman is the vice chancellor
By deepening key partnerships through of University Malaya and fellow at
While regional higher education cross-border and cross-continent Academy of Science Malaysia.
integration and partnerships have been collaborations — such as ASEAN-EU
relatively positive, new avenues of creative or ASEAN-Latin America partnerships
dynamism are needed. One key area — the region can showcase its inherent
requiring more concerted effort is the gross
134 tertiary enrollment rate across ASEAN, expertise, resources, and advantages in
which averaged 40.16% — a figure that key sectors, complementing the strengths
of different regions.
highlights the significant disparities that
still exist across the region. Collaborative and matching grants
encourage multi-institutional proposals
where infrastructures and talent can
Creating New Strategic Openings for be shared and exchanged, further
Emerging Sectors promoting cross-regional synergy within
an institutionalised framework for greater
In emerging sectors such as the digital
economy, energy transition and the pursuit resilience and impact.
of a sustainable community rooted in Collaborative ventures, including
socio-economic justice, high technology curriculum development, especially in the
and a stable, resilient trade and supply fields of AI and emerging technologies,
chain ecosystem, government policies ensure that graduates across ASEAN can
alone are insufficient. compete at the highest level, bolstering
ASEAN’s research and academic footprint
The role of educators, researchers,
experts, industry players and civil society on the global stage.
remains critical in transforming the ASEAN member states need to redouble
region’s future. their efforts to boost funding for research,
ASEAN’s digital economy is projected to which will generate positive ripple effects
reach US$1 trillion by 2030, driven by the on the region’s overall development.
Currently, member states allocate, on
growth of e-commerce, fintech and start-
up ecosystems. Universities across the average, 1.5% of GDP to research and
development (R&D), compared to 2.8% in
region must strategically capitalise on this
momentum by enhancing and establishing OECD countries.
innovation hubs and incubators that ASEAN’s share of global research
connect students with entrepreneurial publications rose from 5% in 2010 to
mentorship. In parallel, they should about 10% in 2024, driven by increased
develop joint research centres focused on collaboration but regional citations per
artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain and article remain below global averages.
cybersecurity to meet evolving industry By tapping into the approximately
demands.
234 million ASEAN citizens aged 15-
In the realm of energy transition, ASEAN’s 35, the region stands to benefit from a
energy demand is projected to triple demographic dividend — an opportunity