On Tuesday, Datin Ir Dr Siti Hamisah binti Tapsir, the Deputy Director General of the Malaysian government's Ministry of Higher Education, delivered an engaging ACU Perspectives talk on the new Malaysia Education Blueprint 2015-2025 (Higher Education) at Friends House in London, UK. 

The informal event saw academics, Commonwealth education experts, Malaysian scholars, and higher education professionals come together, to hear how the student-centred approach detailed in the strategy will influence and shape higher education in Malaysia.

With the goal of becoming a high income economy by 2020, the Malaysian government is investing heavily in its future leaders. Datin Siti Hamisah took delegates through the central principles of the blueprint, its aim to nurture talent domestically, expand its international student numbers, and firmly place Malaysia in the top third of countries for education.

A very engaging and personable speaker, she emphasised the need to equip individuals with the relevant skills and knowledge they need to succeed. "After much consultation, the Malaysian HE framework is focussed on creating graduates who are 'future-ready', i.e. holistic, entrepreneurial, and balanced individuals who will generate wealth for the country."

Students will develop a balance of knowledge (ilmu) and morality (akhlak) at university #acuperspectives pic.twitter.com/5x30kr0uli

— The ACU (@The_ACU) January 19, 2016

She also discussed current issues facing the Malaysian higher education sector, and how she sees investment in higher education as essential to achieving the government's economic ambitions.

'Malaysia has gone full circle - where once we welcomed international providers we now deliver courses around the world' #ACUPerspectives

— The ACU (@The_ACU) January 19, 2016

Questions from the floor followed, with attendees mainly focussing on the practicality of implementating the strategy, as well as academic freedom in Malaysia.

Pauline Wong, a Chevening scholar (2015/2016) from Malaysia studying Human Rights at Goldsmith's, University of London, commended the ACU for organising the event which "was a unique opportunity for students like myself to engage in a meaningful way with the Ministry of Higher Education."

"This opportunity presents itself rarely to us, and it was refreshing to have this chance to meet a senior official from the Ministry in a different setting and to play, in some small way, a part in helping chart the course of Malaysian education," she said.

Datin Siti Hamisah's talk was part of the ACU Perspectives speaker series, a regular evening event held in London on the broad theme of 'change and opportunity in higher education'. Read more about the ACU Perspectives series and previous speakers here: www.acu.ac.uk/perspectives

Downloads

• Datin Siti Hamisah's presentation
• Flick photo album
• Soundcloud podcast of the full talk