Kuala Lumpur: As the ASEAN Chair, Malaysia today launched the ASEAN Global Exchange for Mobility and Scholarship (GEMS) platform, a visionary initiative which will serve as a central hub for scholarship opportunities across the region.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir announced that this initiative will empower students by providing them with enhanced access to academic funding and mobility programmes. He highlighted that for 2025, 300 scholarships have been secured, amounting to approximately USD4 million, and invited other ASEAN universities to contribute to this initiative.

During a press conference, Zambry emphasized the initiative's goal to support students across ASEAN, especially those with potential but limited financial resources. He noted that by enhancing student mobility, expanding scholarships, promoting transnational education, and embracing innovation, ASEAN could be positioned as a global leader in higher education.

At the event, Zambry remarked that the forum demonstrates ASEAN's collective efforts in building a more integrated educational ecosystem. He stated that the forum is an opportunity for meaningful dialogues, lasting partnerships, and creating a future where education transcends borders.

AEF 2025, the first and largest university exhibition in ASEAN, showcased over 90 exhibitors, including higher learning institutions from across the region. The two-day event was organized by Education Malaysia Global Services (EMGS), in collaboration with the Ministry of Higher Education (MoHE).

Held under the theme 'Inclusivity and Sustainability', the forum serves as a platform for universities, policymakers, industry experts, and students to address regional challenges, foster strategic partnerships, and drive sustainable development in the education sector.