KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Education and Learning Summit (MELS) has convened over 150 key stakeholders across the education, technology and industrial sectors.
Organised by the KSI Strategic Institute for Asia Pacific, the summit was held in collaboration with the Malaysian Association of Private Colleges and Universities (Mapcu) and the National Association of Private Educational Institutions (Napei), whose invaluable support was instrumental in the event’s success.
Under the theme "Talent as Economic Infrastructure for Malaysia's AI and Digital Economy," the summit addressed the urgent need to align educational outcomes with the rapid advancements in artificial intelligence and digital transformation.
The summit commenced with an opening ceremony, featuring a series of high-level addresses that set the tone for the day.
KSI Strategic Institute for Asia Pacific president Tan Sri Michael Yeoh delivered the welcome remarks, highlighting the critical intersection of human capital and technological evolution.
"In an era where technology evolves monthly, our talent pool must be viewed as the core infrastructure of the nation.
"Through this summit, we aim to bridge the gap between policy and practice to help Malaysia stay competitive on the global stage. We are deeply grateful to our partners, Napei and Mapcu, for their invaluable support in making this initiative possible.”
Representing Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek, curriculum development division senior deputy director (science and technology policy cluster) Sarina Salim, delivered a special address focusing on the national policy and curriculum shifts required to sustain a digital economy.
This was followed by an insightful opening keynote address by Multimedia University (MMU) and MAHSA University chancellor Tun Zaki Azmi.
A significant highlight of the morning was the presentation of excellence awards, where deserving recipients were honoured for their outstanding contributions to the education sector. These awards served to recognise the dedication of individuals and institutions in fostering academic and professional excellence across Malaysia.
The first plenary session, "Talent, Cost and Competitiveness," moderated by Manaf Gardner Associates chairman and Maybank former chief human capital officer Datuk Dr Nora Manaf explored the strategies businesses and institutions must adopt to thrive in an AI-driven market. The panel featured prominent figures including MMU president and chief executive officer Prof Datuk Dr Mazliham Mohd Su'ud and BAC Education Group founder Raja Singham, who discussed the economic realities of upskilling the Malaysian workforce.
The second plenary, moderated by KSI Strategic Institute for Asia Pacific deputy chairman and Economic Club of Kuala Lumpur chairman Datuk Seri Mohd Iqbal Rawther, focused on "Feeding the Technology Cycle." Speakers such as Taylor’s University vice-chancellor Prof Barry Winn and Datuk Siobhan Das AMCHAM chief executive officer emphasised that education must move at the "speed of the AI economy" to prevent a widening talent gap.
Among others, it also included sessions addressing specialised sectors of the economy and a leadership dialogue.
The summit is expected to foster a consensus on developing agile curricula that reflect real-world AI applications, while promoting a "single talent market" synergy to bridge the gaps between TVET, private universities and the technology industry.
Furthermore, the discussions aim to outline strategic steps to strengthen Malaysia’s global positioning as a premier hub for international education and digital talent.
