Zambry In Astana To Strengthen Higher Education Ties With Central Asia

PUTRAJAYA, Sept 25 (Bernama) -- Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir arrived in Astana, Kazakhstan today to begin a three-day working visit until Sept 27 aimed at strengthening Malaysia’s higher education ties with Central Asian countries.

He is scheduled to attend the Malaysia-Central Asia Ministerial Higher Education Meeting, as well as hold meetings with ministers responsible for higher education from Central Asian countries.

Zambry said the meetings marked an initial step towards establishing more structured cooperation between Malaysian higher education institutions and those in the region.

“Central Asia has a rich scholarly tradition and untapped potential that we should explore together.

“This meeting is an initial step towards connecting the strengths of Malaysian universities, researchers and younger generations with the region,” he said in a statement.

The statement said the Malaysia-Central Asia Higher Education Forum 2026, which brings together higher education leaders and institutional representatives to discuss opportunities for cooperation in student and academic mobility, research and inter-university networks, would also be held.

Zambry is also scheduled to receive an honorary professorship from L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University and deliver a public lecture at the university.

Records show that about 3,726 students from five Central Asian countries – Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan – were pursuing their studies at public and private higher education institutions in Malaysia as of June.

-- BERNAMA