Malaysia and India Strengthen Higher Education Ties at MAHEF 2025 in Chennai
Chennai: Education Malaysia Global Services (EMGS), together with the Consulate General of Malaysia in Chennai, the Association of Indian Universities (AIU), and the Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, successfully hosted the Malaysia–India Higher Education Forum 2025 (MAHEF2025–India), marking a major step forward in bilateral education cooperation.
The Forum, themed “Intensifying Internationalisation in the Context of the Global South Agenda,” underscored Malaysia’s growing commitment to transnational education and its long-standing academic partnership with India. The event aimed to deepen collaboration in higher education, expand joint research and innovation, and enhance student, academic, and talent mobility between the two nations.
MAHEF2025–India brought together university leaders, academics, education counsellors, industry representatives, and students from both countries, reflecting the rising interest in Malaysia–India educational engagement.
His Excellency K. Saravana Kumar, Consul General of Malaysia to South India, emphasised the importance of sustained collaboration.
“We hope Malaysia and India will further strengthen this partnership through deeper institutional linkages, expanded scholarship and industry-linked opportunities, and collaborative research in key areas such as artificial intelligence and digital technologies. We also look forward to greater exchanges of academicians and researchers, fostering continuous knowledge sharing and long-term academic cooperation,” he said.
EMGS Chief Executive Officer Novie Tajuddin highlighted Malaysia’s growing industry-academia ecosystem and encouraged Indian students to explore emerging opportunities.
“Malaysian universities are moving towards stronger collaboration with industry. Indian students should take advantage of opportunities such as the Graduate Pass, which allows them to stay, work, and continue their studies in Malaysia,” she noted.
Key Focus Areas of MAHEF2025–India
The Forum served as a strategic platform to advance:
- Government-to-Government (G2G) and Government-to-Institution cooperation
- University-to-University (U2U) partnerships
- Collaboration in STEM fields
- Transnational Education (TNE) initiatives
- Academic exchanges, joint research, and postgraduate collaboration
- Student and talent mobility between Malaysia and India
A major highlight was the exchange of Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) between Malaysian and Indian higher education institutions, reinforcing shared goals in education, research, innovation, and capacity building.
The Forum and its accompanying education fair supported Shift 7: Global Prominence under the Malaysia Education Blueprint (Higher Education), strengthening Malaysia’s position as a competitive and globally connected education hub.
Held alongside the Forum, the MEGA Study in Malaysia Education Fair Chennai 2025 offered Indian students, parents, and counsellors direct access to Malaysian universities, showcasing programmes, scholarships, and expanding TNE pathways.
Malaysia currently hosts over 150,000 international students from more than 180 countries, contributing an estimated RM16 billion annually to its economy. With globally recognised qualifications, a strong quality assurance system, and a multicultural learning environment, Malaysia continues to attract students from India and across the Global South.
