How a networking event in Kuala Lumpur is turning EU-ASEAN policy into practice
How do you turn high-level policy discussions into practical collaboration? Immediately after the EU-ASEAN Policy Dialogue on Higher Education, more than 40 universities from across ASEAN and the European Union gathered at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) to do just that.
The event, ‘ConnectED: Building Partnerships for ASEAN Internationalisation,’ was co-organised by the EU-ASEAN Sustainable Connectivity Package – Higher Education (SCOPE-HE) and UTM. Endorsed by Malaysia's Ministry of Higher Education, it provided a dynamic platform for university leaders to transform strategic dialogue into tangible partnerships.
The session was officially opened by YBrs. Professor Dr. Zainal Amin bin Ayub, Deputy Director General of Higher Education, who highlighted the crucial role of regional cooperation. Professor Dr. Mohd Shafry bin Mohd Rahim, Vice-Chancellor of UTM, then welcomed participants, reaffirming UTM's active role in fostering international cooperation.
Participants shared ideas and experiences during the Theme Board session on strategic partnerships and joint degrees at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM).
Dr Frank Feulner, Team Leader of SCOPE-HE, captured the spirit of the day:
"The true engine of progress is not policy alone; it is partnership. Today is about moving from strategies to people — linking ideas and institutions to make higher education a true driver of connectivity and opportunity across ASEAN."
From ideas to action
Through interactive Theme Boards focused on mobility, partnerships, and international leadership, participants shared experiences and identified concrete opportunities for future collaboration.
The event concluded with a campus tour, featuring visits to the Malaysia–Japan International Institute of Technology (MJIIT) and the Erasmus+ Malaysia Hub, showcasing UTM's active role in fostering international cooperation.
By facilitating these direct connections, the ConnectED event demonstrated a core goal of the SCOPE-HE programme: to bridge the gap between policy and practice, creating a more inclusive, sustainable, and interconnected higher education landscape across ASEAN and the EU.
Part of the ConnectED participants during their visit to the Erasmus+ Malaysia Hub at UTM Kuala Lumpur, highlighting ongoing collaboration between ASEAN and EU institutions.
About SCOPE-HE
The EU–ASEAN Sustainable Connectivity Package – Higher Education (SCOPE-HE) is a regional programme funded by the European Union to strengthen cooperation between ASEAN and EU higher education systems. It supports policy dialogue, academic collaboration, and institutional partnerships that promote sustainable, inclusive, and interconnected higher education across both regions.
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