PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia continues to reinforce its leadership role in regional higher education through the hosting of the Asean Higher Education Leadership Forum (ASHELF) 2025.
ASHELF was held in conjunction with the Putrajaya Festival of Ideas (FOI) 2025 at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre.
Jointly organised by the Higher Education Ministry, Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris and the Higher Education Leadership Academy (AKEPT), the forum brought together leaders of higher education institutions, policymakers, academics, and industry partners from across Asean.
They discussed a future direction of higher education that is more sustainable, inclusive and innovative.
In his keynote address titled “Asean Higher Education Leadership: Navigating the Future Together”, Asean secretary-general Dr Kao Kim Hourn emphasised the need for visionary, agile and authentic leadership in navigating the rapidly changing landscape of global education.
He called on Asean higher education institutions to strengthen cross-border collaboration to build a competitive and human-centered knowledge ecosystem.
UPSI registrar Helmi Zaifura Abdul Rahman said the organisation of ASHELF 2025 demonstrates Malaysia’s commitment to strengthening the network of higher education leadership at the regional level.
“ASHELF is not merely a platform for knowledge sharing but a space for building strategic alignment among universities, industries, and regional agencies.”
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
