Malaysia offers expertise in developing framework for internationalisation of education

YOGYAKARTA, (Indonesia) July 5 (Bernama) -- Malaysia has offered to share its experience and expertise in developing a "diffuse framework" for internationalisation of education in the move towards the Asean Single Window in education collaboration among member countries. Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said as ASEAN Single Window constitutes one of the mechanisms to realising the ASEAN Community by 2015, it should be more attractive and accessible to all, providing excellence, quality education with high labour market relevance. "This Single Window must also be flexible enough to allow permeability between the different education systems. "In this regard, Malaysia strongly believes in the need for the development of a diffuse framework for the internationalisation of education. Student mobility programmes with credit transfer system between universities in Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand constitute one of the forward-looking initiatives under this framework," Muhyiddin said at the Seventh Asean Education Ministers Meeting (7th ASED) here Wednesday. The ASEAN Single Window is the environment where national single windows of member countries operate and integrate. Speaking during the policy brief titled "Towards Asean Single Window: Strengthening Our Education Collaboration", the deputy prime minister congratulated Indonesia for having outlined a comprehensive way forward to enhance regional education collaboration in the briefing. He said Malaysia believes this single lens would further strengthen regional cooperation on education among ASEAN member countries. "As a single community, we must be united in purpose and spirit. Considering the multitude of challenges out there, there is a need to develop more mutual needs-based programmes that will allow a seamless framework of partnerships towards improving the quality of education," he said. Muhyiddin also stressed on the need for Asean to develop the critical enablers of quality education and ensure that the programmes it develops strive to improve the quality of teachers and leadership, and a curriculum and assessment system that is relevant and capable of producing innovative and creative individuals. "Our strategic priorities demand that we focus on the Systems, our Community and our Connectivity. It is therefore crucial that we learn the best from among us in those areas I have outlined, and perhaps more so that there will be no more regional gaps between us," he said. Muhyiddin said Malaysia also welcomed joint initiatives by ASEAN member countries to improve the quality of education. -- BERNAMA