Emerging technologies in education

The Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia (MoHE) through its agency Education Malaysia Global Services recently concluded the Education Week which took place from Dec.13 — 18, 2021 at the Malaysia Pavilion in Expo 2020 Dubai.

Themed ‘Education for Sustainable Development (ESD)’, the Education Week strongly emphasised the importance of leveraging emerging technologies in education by optimising the digital learning ecosystem, strengthening both Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) through digital learning and cross-industry collaboration to foster greater innovation.

This reflects Malaysia’s support for the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), with MoHE’s aspiration on achieving the fourth SDG on Quality Education.

The Minister of Higher Education Malaysia, Datuk Seri Dr Noraini Ahmad delivered a special address online at the launching ceremony which took place at the Malaysian Pavilion. In her speech, the Minister said that for Malaysia’s higher education institutions to continue their excellent performances, new partnerships must be established between academia, the industry, as well as all other potential collaborators. The event was subsequently launched by the Director General of Higher Education, Dato’ Prof. Dr. Husaini Omar.

The Ministry also announced a new programme ‘Education Tourism’, also commonly known as, EduTourism, will soon be launched to promote Malaysia as a choice destination for both tourism and education.

Malaysia’s Education Week garnered the participation of 8 governmental agencies under MoHE and the Ministry of Education, 11 public universities, 7 private higher education institutions, and 8 franchised companies specialising in education from early childhood, basic to higher education sector.

The key programmes which took place throughout the week include; a forum on Future Digital Education; early childhood education and online platform learning; 40 pocket talks which covered topics such as environment and sustainability, technical and vocational education training, Islamic education and technology, early childhood education, education through tourism and mobility programmes; product launching; more than 100 business matching meetings; signing of Memorandums of Understanding between Malaysian institutions and international collaborators; and the Asian International Mobility for Students International Conference.

The Education Week is one of the 26 thematic weekly trade and business programmes organised by Malaysia Pavilion in Expo 2020 Dubai. The programmes are spearheaded and supported by 21 ministries, 70 departments and agencies, and 5 state governments, with industry players coming as weekly business delegates.

Malaysia’s participation in Expo 2020 Dubai is led by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation with Malaysian Green Technology and Climate Change Corporation as implementing agency.

Malaysia’s self-built 1,234.05 sq meter pavilion is the first net zero carbon pavilion at the EXPO. The Pavilion features a rainforest canopy inspired by the majestic tropical rainforest of Malaysia, blending cultural elements with nature and functionality into a futuristic building.

The Pavilion carries the theme “Energising Sustainability” to represent the nation’s commitment and approach to sustainable development. It is segmented into four sub-themes; “Energising Today”, “Energising Tomorrow”, “Energising Harmony” and “Energising Business”. Malaysia’s activities during the EXPO will include permanent 3D displays, daily cultural performances, craft demonstrations, café operations as well as 26 weekly thematic trade and business programmes.

The business weeks will involve a large contingent of 21 ministries, 69 agencies and five state governments initiating and supporting the programmes. They will also bring weekly business delegations from the industry that will participate in pocket talks, product launches, business matching sessions and signing of MoUs. Malaysia Pavilion will also host and participate in summits and forums throughout Expo.

The Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation is the lead ministry for Malaysia’s participation at the mega event. Malaysian Green Technology and Climate Change Centre (MGTC) is the implementing agency.

Sharjah-Malaysia business: The Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) stressed its keenness to step up efforts to deepen the ties of Sharjah with Southeast Asian countries, by finding joint mechanisms to enhance trade, investment and exports between the emirate and Malaysia, in order to increase the shares of Emirati products in the Malaysian markets, which are a gateway to the markets of Southeast Asia.

This came during the Sharjah-Malaysia business forum organised recently by the SCCI at its premises on the sidelines of the visit of a commercial delegation from Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE). The forum was attended by Abdulaziz Shattaf, Assistant Director-General for Communication and Business Sector, and Sharimaton Mat Salih, Executive Vice President of Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE).

Abdulaziz Shattaf said that the SCCI is eager to develop economic cooperation relations between the business communities in both sides and encourage them to build constructive and fruitful long-term partnerships.

He underlined that the SCCI strives to strengthen joint efforts in terms of commercial promotion of available investment fields, benefitting from the existing friendly relations between the two countries.

Shattaf also added that the SCCI is keen to develop bilateral relations and push them towards more advanced and prosperous prospects, highlighting the cooperation agreement signed between the SCCI and Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation in 1994.

Salih lauded the SCCI’s substantial role in consolidating economic and trade relations between the UAE and Malaysia, stressing the willingness of the Malaysian business community to develop prospects for cooperation with their counterparts in Sharjah, provide all means of support and facilities for Emirati businessmen wishing to invest in Malaysia, and coordinate for exchange of visits between business communities and introduce them to promising commercial and investment opportunities.

The forum featured bilateral business meetings between businessmen from both sides, which focused on discussing partnerships, cooperation and mutual coordination, and available investment opportunities.

Meanwhile the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) organised the Sharjah-Sao Paulo Business Forum recently, during the visit of a high-level delegation from the Republic of Brazil headed by Joao Agripino da Costa Doria Junior, Governor of Brazil’s southeast state of Sao Paulo.

The forum highlighted joint investment opportunities, encouraged cooperation and partnerships in various economic sectors, and provided an opportunity to more than 100 businesspersons in the two countries to meet and discuss the cooperation and investment opportunities available. The forum was attended by Abdulla Sultan Al Owais, Chairman of the Board of Directors of SCCI; Khalid Jassim Al Midfa, Chairman of the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority; Issa Hilal Al Hezami, Chairman of the Sharjah Sports Council; Osmar Chohfi, President of the Arab-Brazilian Chamber of Commerce (ABCC); Fernando Igreja, Brazilian Ambassador to the UAE, and Mohammed Ahmed Amin Al Awadi, Director-General, SCCI.

Economic cooperation: Abdullah Mohamed Al Mazrouei, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, received Mohammad Tarid bin Sufian, Ambassador of Malaysia to the UAE, at the Chamber’s tower in Abu Dhabi to discuss the prospects of expanding economic cooperation between the business communities in both countries. The Malaysian Ambassador underlined his country’s eagerness to boost economic relations with Abu Dhabi and increase visits between entrepreneurs in both countries.

He added that Dubai Expo 2020 acts as a direct economic platform that serves the public interest.

During the meeting, attended by Mohamed Helal Al Mheiri, Director-General of Abu Dhabi Chamber, Al Mazrouei highlighted the Chamber’s efforts to increase economic cooperation between businesses in Abu Dhabi and Malaysia, adding that the UAE in general, and Abu Dhabi in particular, is continuing to bolster its relations with southeast Asian countries.

Al Mazrouei underscored the importance of sharing ideas to increase the share of national products in Malaysian markets, which act as a window for Southeast Asian countries. He added that Abu Dhabi is open to foreign businesses, due to its position as one of the most attractive economies for direct foreign investments regionally and internationally supported by its conducive investment legislation and incentives.

Al Mazrouei also highlighted the need to double the efforts to provide Malaysian investors with more facilities and activate communication channels between Emirati businesses and investors and their Malaysian counterparts.