AI-driven partnership: (From left) Hunan University of Technology Office of International Cooperation and Exchange deputy director Dr Zhao Tian, president Prof Dr Jiang Changbo, Prof Mohammad Shatar, Prof Chan, and HELP University vice-chancellor Prof Dr Andy Liew during the MoU signing ceremony between HELP University and Hunan University of Technology. — IZZRAFIQ ALIAS/The Star
WITH the world changing at an unprecedented pace, the resulting uncertainty calls for fresh perspectives on education, leadership and innovation, said HELP University chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Paul Chan.
He pointed to the “transition nexus” – where experiential learning, artificial intelligence (AI) and circular economy principles intersect – as the central framework to guide these shifts.
“We cannot solve the problems of our country – and certainly not the world – unless we move beyond siloed thinking.
“This is no longer the age of monodisciplinary or interdisciplinary work. We have entered the era of transdisciplinary learning.
“Learning must move beyond information transfer to become a dynamic journey of identity formation,” he said during his welcome address at the 24th HELP University Annual Convocation Strategy Symposium in Kuala Lumpur on April 26.
The symposium brought together thought leaders, policymakers, educators and industry practitioners to explore how AI-driven experiential learning, circular economy principles, and cross-sector collaboration among government, universities and industry can drive innovation in an era of uncertainty.
Chan said experiential learning forms the foundation for both lifelong and life-wide learning, enabling a transformation in how young people are educated and professionals are upskilled.
He added that leadership – the only “compass” available in uncertain times – must remain fluid.
“It must be an exadaptive leadership – prudent, exponential, and capable of rearranging existing resources to solve problems that have not yet emerged,” he said.
He also urged educators, policymakers and industry leaders to embrace a shift from experiential to experimental learning.
“With an understanding of experimental learning, we can then recognise that AI is not frivolous; in fact, it is rigorous. We must learn to master this tool,” he said.
Beyond knowledge transfer
Malaysian Qualifications Agency chief executive officer Prof Datuk Dr Mohammad Shatar Sabran, who delivered the keynote speech, emphasised the need for action – challenging institutions to become architects of transformative, lifelong and life-wide learning.
Drawing on the metaphor of an architectural structure, Prof Mohamed Shatar articulated a vision of education in which the “pillars” represent foundational values – resilience, critical thinking and ethical reasoning – while the “roof” signifies the overarching aspiration of nurturing responsible, future-ready citizens.
He emphasised that in today’s fast-shifting landscape, education must no longer be viewed as a linear conveyor belt of knowledge transfer.
Instead, he said, it must foster flexible, holistic individuals capable of navigating complex and unknowable futures.
“Experiential learning models based on the ‘3Ls’ – Learn by Listening, Learn by Seeing, and Learn by Doing – are important.
“Why teach photosynthesis in a classroom when you can sit under a tree and examine a leaf?
“Learning doesn’t need to be confined to four walls,” he stressed, citing examples from Korea and Japan, where students engage in outdoor, hands-on learning activities, reinforcing knowledge through experience rather than rote memorisation.
He further underscored the importance of differentiation through innovation for Malaysia to position itself as a global education hub and stand out as “bold, flexible and innovative”.
“That difference must stem from how we teach and how our students learn,” said Prof Mohammad Shatar, who also witnessed the signing of three memoranda of understanding (MoUs) during the symposium, aimed at facilitating HELP’s global expansion.
The first MoU was signed with China’s Hunan University of Technology to establish the Institute of Future Technology and Design, dedicated to advancing AI-driven entrepreneurship. The aim is to position Malaysia as a centre for packaging technology, which plays a key role in eco-technology development for waste recycling.
The second was with the Global Education Advancement Group, a former Nasdaq-listed company, to provide technical and vocational education and training-driven upskilling programmes that support workforce development.
The third partnership was with the Australian Institute of Public Accountants (IPA) to offer competency-based training tailored to the demands of the evolving financial ecology.
Gamifying lessons
Like Prof Chan and Prof Mohammad Shatar, Gamify Lab chief creative officer Erik Moltgen also advocated moving beyond passive knowledge transfer.
Moltgen
“We must move towards active, engaging learning environments. Design is as crucial as content,” he said.
Noting the synergy between gamification and AI, he said the latter enables the creation of more immersive, personalised and efficient educational experiences than ever before.
There is, however, a divide in how people perceive AI – one that is often generational and economic, he opined.
“Parents view gaming as a distraction or the opposite of work. But I see games as a powerful ally to learning,” he said, referencing how games like chess have historically been used to develop strategic thinking.
He added that gamification – using game mechanics to enhance learning – can play a key role in addressing the current crisis in motivation.
“Universities have long relied on extrinsic motivation, but that’s declining.
“Forty years ago, a degree was enough to secure a job. Now, even with a degree, experience and diplomas, graduates are competing in a saturated market,” he said during a panel discussion alongside IPA chief executive officer Andrew Conway, International Council for Small Business chairman Prof Dr Ki Chan Kim, and Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants advocacy and professional standards director Terence Lam.
Policy as a catalyst
Malaysian Investment Development Authority sustainability division director Syed Kamal Muzaffa Syed Hassan Sagaff identified policy as the structural base enabling collaborative innovation, particularly in emerging fields like AI.
He cited the Malaysia Artificial Intelligence Nexus 2024 as a concrete example of policy in action, aimed at promoting AI development across various sectors.
The initiative seeks to unite AI experts, universities, businesses and government agencies to create a cohesive ecosystem for AI advancement.
”That is what we are talking about – cross-sector collaboration.
“Malaysia already has the right policies and government oversight in place to enable cross-sector innovation – especially in AI.
“Now, success depends on industry and academia actively joining the effort to bring that policy to life,” he said during a panel discussion that also featured HRD Corp chief strategy officer Dr Rony A Gobilee, HELP University Institute of Crime and Criminology director and professional chair Datuk Seri Dr Akhbar Satar, and Transparency International Malaysia president Raymon Ram offering perspectives on how strategic policy frameworks are shaping Malaysia’s future.
Echoing Syed Kamal Muzaffa, Rony reinforced the importance of policy-driven partnerships at both national and regional levels.
He said platforms such as HRD Corp’s e-learning aggregator, e-LATiH, reflect a future-facing approach to experiential and lifelong learning.
“Policy should not only be made available, but also accessible.
“This is part of our strategic plan development. We work together with industry,” he said, adding that HRD Corp is currently focused on closing gaps within industry to help create high-paying jobs, support technology adoption, and ensure a sustainable learning ecosystem.
Highlighting the need for cross-border collaboration to scale these efforts beyond Malaysia, he said boundaries should not limit opportunities to learn from one another.
“We are looking at the Asean level, where industries in Malaysia are no longer confined by borders in terms of talent and competencies,” he said, adding that Asean countries share common interests – skills consistency, talent mobility, inclusive growth, regional collaboration, and strong public-private partnerships.
Looking ahead, Rony said Malaysia would leverage its Asean chairmanship to promote leadership and skills exchange across the region.
“This year, we aim to organise a skills exchange programme through Asean leadership, enhancing the value proposition for all member countries,” he said.
