KUALA LUMPUR, 26 Mar. — Approximately 2500 delegates comprising of professors, international relation officers, academic officers, scholars and ambassadors from across the globe have gathered at Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) to attend the first ever Asia-Pacific Association for International Education Conference & Exhibition 2019 (APAIE) held in Malaysia from 25 to 29 March 2019.
There are around 2000 international delegates from 60 countries and ambassadors from 15 countries, who came to share about new developments in international education and internationalisation in Asia-Pacific higher education institutions.
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) was selected as the lead host this year in the largest academic non-medical conference in Malaysia with the theme ‘Diversity and Inclusivity of Higher Education in the Asia Pacific’.
The conference was also co-hosted by Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Universiti Malaya (UM), Management and Science University (MSU), Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP) and Universiti Tenaga Nasional (UNITEN).
UTM Vice Chancellor, Prof. Datuk Ir. Dr. Wahid bin Omar stated that, the participation in APAIE 2019 would provide opportunities for institutions of higher education in Malaysia to expand international networks and increase global visibility in line with Shift 8 Global Prominence of the Malaysia Education Blueprint 2015-2025 (Higher Education).
He added, the hosting also benefits UTM in terms of research collaboration, academic exchange, joint publication, recruitment, student mobility program and rankings and these would enhance the quality of education in Malaysia as a whole.
“UTM had won the bid to be the lead host for this event back in 2016 and this (hosting) will increase its global prominence and branding in (the) higher education landscape throughout the world.
UTM also intends for APAIE 2019 to become a platform for all public and private universities in Malaysia to gain insight and ideas from all around the world to be implemented at university level for better education.
With close to 2500 participants from 60 countries and over 330 booths sold out, APAIE 2019 is the biggest ever academic conference and exhibition in Malaysia and surpasses the number of delegates of APAIE 2018 held in Singapore.
APAIE 2019 was launched in a grand Opening Ceremony by the Deputy Minister of Education, YB Teo Nie Ching in Plenary Hall, KLCC on 26 March 2019.
There was also a Keynote Speech delivered by the Permaisuri Johor, Her Majesty Raja Zarith Sofiah binti Almarhum Sultan Idris Shah during the ceremony.
Her Majesty Raja Zarith Sofiah Binti Almarhum Sultan Idris Shah called for all parties to do more in improving diversity and inclusivity in higher education.
While delivering her keynote address at the 14th Asia-Pacific Association for International Education (APAIE) Conference and Exhibition 2019, held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre today (26 March), Her Majesty also emphasized on the importance of embracing those who may be physically or mentally challenged.
The ceremony would be followed by APAIE 2019 Presidents’ Round-table and multiple sessions throughout the duration of the event to discuss a myriad of topics regarding global issues in education.
Among the sub-themes are ‘Mobility And Diversity: Developing Global Citizens’, ‘Transnational Higher Education and 21St Century Education’, ‘Harmonizing Regional Higher Education’ and ‘Inclusion, Equality And Diversity In Higher Education’.
