International Expert Workshop on Advancing Higher Education Studies

24–25 June 2025 | Pulse Grande, Putrajaya, Malaysia

The International Expert Workshop on Advancing Higher Education Studies was successfully held on 24 and 25 June 2025 at Pulse Grande Hotel, Putrajaya. Organised by the National Higher Education Research Institute (IPPTN), this two-day workshop brought together leading national and international scholars to examine the evolution, current challenges, and future directions of higher education as a field of study, both in Malaysia and globally.

The workshop commenced with a presentation on the Malaysian experience, delivered by Assoc. Professor Dr. Thien Lei Mee from IPPTN, Universiti Sains Malaysia. This set the stage for a series of rich international case presentations by renowned scholars in higher education studies. Professor Dr. Hugo Horta from The University of Hong Kong shared insights from Hong Kong and Europe, while Assoc. Professor Dr. Gwilym Croucher from the University of Melbourne provided the Australian perspective. The session continued with contributions from Professor Dr. Jung Cheol Shin (Seoul National University, South Korea), Professor Dr. Damtew Teferra (University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa), and Professor Dr. N. V. Varghese (Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, India), each offering critical reflections on the state and development of the field in their respective regions.

Following the presentations, participants engaged in a series of interactive Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) aimed at identifying key gaps, opportunities for collaboration, and strategic pathways for advancing higher education studies in Malaysia. The workshop served as a platform to synthesize key insights and generate strategic recommendations for stakeholders in advancing HE studies and the development of a Higher Education special code within the broader National Education Code framework. These outcomes are expected in positioning higher education studies as a distinct, strategic, and impactful field of scholarly inquiry, both nationally and within the global academic community.