The Institut Penyelidikan Pendidikan Tinggi Negara (IPPTN) or the National Higher Education Research Institute Universiti Sains Malaysia, proudly contributed to the 2025 China-ASEAN Education Cooperation Week through active participation in the International Symposium on High-Level International Talent Cultivation, held from 25 to 26 July 2025 in Guiyang, Guizhou Province.

Organized by the Centre for Language Education and Cooperation under China’s Ministry of Education, the symposium brought together nearly 200 participants, including policymakers, university leaders, international organizations (such as UNESCO), and private sector representatives. Themed “Global Synergy and Educational Innovation: Cultivating Future-Oriented International Talent,” the event fostered cross-border dialogue on innovative approaches to international talent development.

Representing IPPTN and Universiti Sains Malaysia, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Thien Lei Mee, Director of IPPTN, was invited as one of six panelists in the first roundtable session. Her participation reflected IPPTN’s strategic commitment to advancing knowledge exchange and policy dialogue across China and ASEAN countries.

In her panel presentation titled “AI and the Future of International Talent Cultivation,” Dr. Thien explored how artificial intelligence can serve as a transformative force in preparing globally competent graduates. She emphasized the importance of cultivating “tri-competency” talent—individuals equipped with global competence, digital fluency, and human-centric skills. Her insights traced the evolution of AI from theoretical foundations to the emergence of generative AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT), while highlighting key trends in personalized learning, automated assessment, and data-driven educational reform.

Drawing upon Malaysia’s experience, Dr. Thien outlined the country's AI policy ecosystem, showcasing national strategies and programmes designed to embed AI and big data within education systems. She also addressed pressing challenges such as skill gaps (with 81% of firms facing difficulties in recruiting AI talent), high infrastructure costs, and curriculum misalignment. Her recommendations included:

• Strengthening industry-academia collaboration,
• Investing in teacher capacity building and ensuring equitable digital access,
• Adopting agile, interdisciplinary curricula, and
• Establishing ethical frameworks for AI integration.

Following the session, Dr. Thien was invited for a live interview by Xinhua News Agency, which garnered over 550,000 views within 24 hours—a clear indicator of strong regional and international interest in Malaysia’s contributions to AI innovation and higher education reform.

Her participation not only reflects IPPTN’s strategic commitment to regional educational cooperation, but also reinforces Malaysia’s growing role in shaping the future of global higher education and digital transformation. Insights from the forum are expected to inform ongoing policy dialogues and contribute to the agenda of the upcoming Global Higher Education Forum (GHEF) 2025, to be hosted on 04-06 November in Putrajaya, Malaysia.

Link: https://h.xinhuaxmt.com/vh512/share/12662120?docid=12662120&newstype=1001&d=1350067&channel=weixin (Chinese version)

https://xhnewsapi.xinhuaxmt.com/share/news_pc?id=1108361681068032&showType=3008&utdId=null&version=4.1.0&projectSource=1&clientMarket=mi&appChannel=mi (English version)