Page 177 - VC Message

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41. Our success as institutions will increasingly be measured not only by academic
output, but by our impact on societal outcomes: are we helping to reduce
inequality? improve public discourse? enhance disaster preparedness?
42. The world’s expectations of higher education are rising, and rightly so. This
expanded role will require us to break down silos between academia and the
outside world.

Respected guests,
43. As we expand our roles and navigate new challenges, we must not lose sight of
the core purpose of education. At its heart, higher education is a deeply human
endeavour – it is about nurturing human potential and uplifting humanity.
44. In charting the future of universities, we must therefore embrace a holistic,
humanistic approach rooted in conscience, values, and ethics. Technological
know-how or policy influence alone cannot guarantee a better future; we need
wisdom, compassion, and moral courage to guide how that knowledge is used.
45. In this era of rapid change, universities should serve as ethical compasses,
instilling in students and society the values that bind us together: integrity,
empathy, respect for diversity, and a commitment to justice and the public good.
46. Humanistic values must be interwoven into the curriculum and campus life. Many
universities are already moving in this direction, emphasizing liberal arts and
ethics training alongside technical skills – producing what some call “T-shaped”
graduates in understanding human contexts.
47. But a humanistic approach goes beyond the classroom. It’s in the culture of the
university – how we encourage open dialogue, how we support diversity and
inclusion on campus, how we reward community service and kindness. 169
48. Universities should be model communities of conscience, where decisions
– whether by administrators or student leaders – are guided by principles of
fairness, transparency, and care for others.
49. A values-driven education is key to bridging divides in an era of polarization.
Around the world we see fragmentation – political, cultural, ideological. Education
grounded in common human values can help heal these rifts by fostering
understanding and shared purpose.
50. UNESCO’s new social contract for education calls for exactly this: a rebalancing
of our relationships with each other, with the planet, and with technology.
51. Given the global nature of today’s challenges, no country or region can tackle
them alone. This is where the ASEAN perspective and the spirit of collaboration
become crucial.
52. As our countries strive to become high-income, inclusive economies, universities
supply the skilled workforce, research breakthroughs, and innovation ecosystems
required to get there.
53. By pooling our expertise and learning from each other, ASEAN universities can
collectively solve problems that no single nation could solve alone, while also
elevating the region’s profile on the world stage.
54. This is part of what has been termed “education as soft power”, where academic
cooperation builds goodwill and mutual understanding across nations, fostering
people-to-people connections that politics alone cannot.
55. In the pursuit of peace and stability, universities in ASEAN should champion
dialogue based understanding in international affairs.
56. Let us not forget the pressing global challenges that demand a concerted effort
well beyond our region. Climate change is a global problem that will require global
solutions informed by research from every corner of the world.