Page 186 - VC Message

Leading with Purpose
Messages of the Vice Chancellor KEYNOTED ADDRESSES

59. 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.
60. These experiences inculcate a sense of our common humanity that transcends
borders – a vital antidote to the “us vs. them” narratives that fuel conflict.
61. 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.
62. 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.
63. As our countries strive to become high-income, inclusive economies, universities
supply the skilled workforce, research breakthroughs, and innovation ecosystems
required to get there. We must continue to raise the overall quality of higher
education in ASEAN, address access gaps, and encourage regional academic
mobility and research collaboration.
64. 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.
65. ASEAN’s academic community should not limit its vision to our region alone. We
have much to offer to the broader global community, sitting at the crossroads of
East and West, North and South, both influencing and being influenced by major
powers without being one ourselves.
66. This unique positioning allows ASEAN to act as a bridge between different
178 parts of the world. In a time of geopolitical polarization, academic diplomacy –
collaborations that cut across political divides – is more important than ever.
67. 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.
68. In the pursuit of peace and stability, universities in ASEAN should champion
dialogue based understanding in international affairs.
69. Today, ASEAN’s stance of “strategic multi-alignment” – engaging with all major
powers pragmatically.
70. 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.
71. Similarly, in public health, the fight against pandemics benefits greatly from
Southeast Asian research contributions.
72. The bottom line is: Our universities’ mandate must be as global as the challenges
we seek to solve.

Ladies and gentlemen,
73. Having spoken at length about the broader vision, allow me to share how Universiti
Malaya (UM), as Malaysia’s oldest and leading university, is positioning itself to
meet these challenges.
74. Our strategy moving forward is a harmonious blend of academic excellence and
humanistic values, coupled with bold action to address national, regional, and
global issues.
75. At the heart of UM’s approach is a holistic three-pronged mantra: industrialisation,
internationalisation, and community engagement
76. We strive to ensure that our academic programs produce graduates with the skills
and creativity needed by current and future industries. It also means fostering