WHILE technology alone will not be enough to define our future, Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow has called for greater importance in closing the education gap, particularly at a time when the global economic outlook is expected to see a tremendous shift.
He expressed his concerns following a couple of roundtables he attended previously regarding the recent US tariff news, where little to no discussion was raised on how such global shifts might impact the education sector.
“We need to strike a balance and give equal importance to other sectors that could potentially be affected by this US tariff hikes, and as for education, particularly in areas such as research funding, international student mobility, technological access, and academic-industry linkages.
“I hope that today’s summit can begin to fill that gap, initiating a deeper conversation on how global economic policies ripple through the classroom, campus, and ultimately, the workforce.
“Understanding these interconnections is key to future-proofing our education systems and ensuring that our youth remain competitive in a volatile global landscape.
“As ASEAN navigates the challenges of Industry 4.0, climate adaptation, and digital transformation, it is clear that technology alone will not define our future.
“What will define is the quality of our education, the resilience of our people, and our collective capacity to innovate and lead,” Chow said in his speech during the opening ceremony of the ‘Empowering Education Summit 2025’ programme at JEN Penang Georgetown by Shangri-La today.
The theme is ‘Shaping ASEAN’s Future Through Skills and Innovation’.
The one-day summit is organised by KSI Strategic Institute for Asia Pacific and supported by other key bodies, namely the Malaysian Association of Private Colleges and Universities (MAPCU), the National Association of Private Educational Institutions (Napei), and the ASEAN Business Club.
In a related development, Chow further lauded the initiative as it aligns closely with Penang’s aspirations under the Penang2030 vision.
“At the heart of this vision lies a commitment to build a digitally literate, inclusive, and innovation-ready society through education and skills development.
“We believe that Penang has both the potential and responsibility to emerge as a regional education hub through a strong institutional ecosystem in the likes of Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Penang Skills Development Centre (PSDC), Penang STEM, and others.
“This is coupled with decades of close industry-academia collaboration with global industrial giants like Intel, AMD, Bosch, and many others,” he added.
The other highlight of Chow’s speech was when he proposed five key areas that relevant bodies could explore to boost education in these trying times.
Firstly, he has called to position Penang as a regional centre for TVET (technical, vocational education, and training) and lifelong learning, strengthen public-private partnerships, accelerate EdTech collaboration, enhance regional mobility and inclusivity, and lastly, establish ASEAN research networks in Penang.
The summit, which is expected to end at about 5pm today, will see several industry experts sharing their insights from a broader perspective on the topic of education and its implications on the global economy.
Meanwhile, Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek stressed the importance of the ASEAN Work Plan on Education (2021-2025) as it lays out a robust framework for cooperation, and that Malaysia is truly aligned with its vision.
“There are three specific areas under this initiative, namely curriculum reform and digital competency, professional development for teachers, and stronger TVET-industry collaboration.
“Under professional development for teachers, by partnering with Google for Education, Unesco, and local universities, we are retaining over 100,000 teachers nationwide in digital pedagogy and 21st-century learning tools,” she said.
Among others present during the ceremony earlier were KSI Strategic Institute for Asia Pacific deputy chairman Datuk Seri Mohamed Iqbal Rawther, and MAPCU president Datuk Parmjit Singh.
Story by Kevin Vimal
Pix by Siti Nuratikah Rahmat
Video by Darwina Mohd Daud