Malaysia, Kazakhstan agree to revive higher education cooperation under Zambry-led initiative

KUALA LUMPUR, 27 SEPTEMBER 2026 —

Malaysia and Kazakhstan commit to annual ministerial talks on higher education as they expand cooperation into AI, nuclear energy and critical minerals

Malaysia and Kazakhstan have agreed to revive and institutionalise their higher education partnership, with both nations signing off on an annual ministerial-level meeting and expanding collaboration into emerging sectors such as artificial intelligence (AI), nuclear energy, and critical minerals.

The move, announced during Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir’s visit to Astana, marks a formalisation of ties disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic and aligns with Malaysia’s broader push to strengthen its regional higher education network.

The decision follows a decade-long partnership between the two countries, which saw thousands of Kazakhstani students study in Malaysia before the pandemic slowed momentum. Zambry highlighted the strategic importance of reconnecting, noting that graduates from Malaysia now occupy key roles across Kazakhstan’s government and private sectors.

"They play an important role in further strengthening ties between Malaysia and Kazakhstan," he said, adding that the revival of cooperation would leverage Malaysia’s growing influence in Central Asia, particularly after Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s 2024 visit to the region.

The agreement was formalised during the Malaysia-Central Asia Higher Education Forum 2026 (MAHEF2026), organised by Education Malaysia Global Services (EMGS). A key outcome was the establishment of an annual ministerial meeting on higher education, with Kazakhstan hosting the inaugural edition and Malaysia set to take over next year.

Both countries have also identified priority areas for joint research and academic programmes, including AI, nuclear energy for peaceful applications, critical minerals, rare earth elements (REE), and agriculture. Dual-degree programmes, student mobility initiatives, and industrial training exchanges were among the specific collaborations outlined.

Zambry underscored the role of EMGS—a key agency under his ministry—in driving Malaysia’s internationalisation agenda, citing its one-stop International Student Arrival Centre (ISAC) as a model for other nations. The centre, developed in partnership with the Malaysian Immigration Department and Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB), streamlines procedures for international students upon arrival.

Kazakhstan’s Science and Higher Education Minister, Sayasat Nurbek, expressed interest in adopting Malaysia’s approach after the two sides signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to deepen cooperation in higher education internationalisation.

Malaysia currently hosts around 170,000 international students from nearly 180 countries, ranking 14th globally as an education destination. The government aims to climb into the world’s top 10, with the expanded partnership with Kazakhstan seen as a critical step in achieving that goal.

The focus on high-value sectors like AI and nuclear energy also reflects Malaysia’s broader economic strategy to diversify its education exports beyond traditional fields, positioning the country as a hub for advanced research and technical training in emerging industries.

The revival of ties comes as Malaysia seeks to capitalise on its existing strengths in education exports while aligning with Kazakhstan’s own ambitions to develop its higher education sector. With the first annual ministerial meeting already scheduled, the framework for future collaboration is now in place, though the specifics of joint programmes and funding mechanisms remain to be finalised.

The next phase will likely involve university-level negotiations to formalise dual-degree agreements and research partnerships, with EMGS expected to play a central role in coordinating these efforts.