Malaysia-central Asia Higher Education Forum 2026 Advances University Partnerships and Student Mobility

ASTANA, KAZAKHSTAN, 30 SEPTEMBER 2026 —

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 30 (Reuters) – Education Malaysia Global Services (EMGS) convened about 200 delegates at the Malaysia‑Central Asia Higher Education Forum 2026 (MAHEF 2026) in Astana, Kazakhstan, bringing together representatives of 18 Malaysian universities and a range of institutions from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

Participants are examining practical routes for cooperation, including joint and dual‑degree programmes, credit‑transfer mechanisms, scholarship schemes and two‑way student mobility. Sessions also address transnational education models and research partnerships that align with the comparative strengths of the institutions involved. “Ministerial engagement has given us a clear direction.

MAHEF brings that conversation to the universities, where programmes are designed, research partnerships are built and opportunities for students take shape,” said Datuk Professor Dr Azlinda Azman, Director General of Higher Education at Malaysia’s Ministry of Higher Education.

The Malaysian delegation featured senior officials from the Ministry of Higher Education, the Department of Polytechnic and Community College Education and the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA). Among them were Dr Shamsuri Abdullah, Director General of the Department of Polytechnic and Community College Education, and YBhg Prof Dato’ Dr Mohammad Shatar Bin Sabran, Chief Executive Officer of the MQA.

Their presence signalled the government’s commitment to ensuring that any new programmes meet national quality‑assurance standards and receive appropriate accreditation.

The day’s programme opened with plenary discussions on transnational education and student mobility, followed by a session on technical‑vocational education and training (TVET) and digital‑skills cooperation. An expert panel then examined quality‑assurance issues, mutual recognition and accreditation, topics that are critical when institutions design joint curricula and facilitate cross‑border student movement.

The agenda also included a document‑exchange segment, allowing universities to share memoranda of understanding, programme outlines and scholarship frameworks, before an afternoon breakout where institutions could explore specific partnership opportunities.

EMGS positioned the forum as part of a broader strategy to boost Malaysia’s education export market. By fostering links with Central Asian partners, the agency hopes to attract more Central Asian students to Malaysian campuses and to encourage Malaysian students to pursue studies in the region, thereby diversifying the flow of talent and enhancing the international profile of Malaysian higher‑education institutions.

The involvement of 18 Malaysian universities underscores the sector’s enthusiasm for expanding its footprint in Central Asia. “With 18 Malaysian universities in Astana, we have an opportunity to identify where our strengths meet those of Central Asia. The value of this forum will be seen in the work our institutions take forward together,” Azlinda Azman added.

While the forum did not announce any signed agreements, the document‑exchange and partnership‑exploration sessions are expected to generate a pipeline of proposals for joint degrees, research collaborations and scholarship programmes in the coming months. The focus on TVET and digital skills reflects both regions’ policy priorities to upskill their workforces in line with emerging technology trends.

Analysts monitoring Malaysia’s education export sector note that increased student mobility with Central Asia could complement existing markets in China, India and the Middle East, potentially offsetting enrollment pressures from those regions. The forum’s emphasis on quality assurance and mutual recognition also aims to reduce regulatory barriers that have historically limited cross‑border programme delivery.

The next step, according to EMGS, is to consolidate the ideas generated at MAHEF 2026 into formal proposals that will be reviewed by the Ministry of Higher Education and the MQA. Those proposals will then be presented to the respective ministries in Kazakhstan and the other Central Asian states for endorsement, paving the way for pilot programmes and scholarship allocations later in the year.

Related: Education Malaysia Global Services (EMGS) · Ministry of Higher Education · Astana, Kazakhstan