JAKARTA: Malaysia and Indonesia will conduct joint research in seven key areas, as part of ongoing efforts to boost higher education in both countries.
This was announced today following a bilateral meeting between Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh and Indonesia’s Minister of Research, Technology and Higher Education Prof H. Mohamad Nasir.
The research areas are food and agriculture, health and medicine, information and communications technology, transport, nanotechnology, defence and security technology, and renewable energy.
Nasir said both countries will sign a memorandum of understanding to facilitate the collaborations, which will be developed by higher education institutions from Malaysia and Indonesia.
He also said a roadmap will be put in place.
“But, the publication of these research papers is not enough. The research has to be focused on innovation that comprises invention and commercialisation,” he told reporters here.
Nasir said the bilateral meeting also focused on the need for universities to expose their surrounding communities to the importance of higher education.
Idris, meanwhile, announced that his ministry will offer 20 scholarships to Indonesia’s top students to further their studies in Malaysian universities.
“The scholarship covers tuition fees and costs for a year’s studies for the next academic year.
“This is a bilateral cooperation. We have our students here and vice versa,” he said, adding that the scholarship recipients will be allowed to choose their field of study.
Idris said the one-hour meeting also touched on student volunteerism and Indonesia’s ‘waqf’ system.
Later in the afternoon, Idris delivered a keynote address entitled “Redesigning Higher Education for the Future and the 4th Industrial Revolution: A Malaysia-Indonesia Experience” at the Future Of Modern Education exhibition organised by Education Malaysia Global Services (EMGS).
A total of 18 Malaysian public and private universities set up booths at the exhibition to promote their courses.
EMGS also held seminars and meetings with teachers, recruitment agents, Indonesian government bodies and officials from country’s Higher Education Ministry.
350 representatives from Indonesian high schools and colleges also attended the event.
