The 1st China-Malaysia Forum on High-Quality Private Higher Education (the Forum) opened on 24 May in Macao. Centred on the theme “Collaborative and Integrative Innovation Empowered by Digital Intelligence: Exploring New Pedagogical Directions and Approaches in Private Universities”, the Forum brought together over 120 participants, including representatives from academic institutions and educational organisations across China, Malaysia, and Singapore.

On 24 May, the 1st China-Malaysia Forum on High-Quality Private Higher Education was kicked off in Macao. Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mr.Teng Sio Hong, Deputy Director of Macao Education and Youth Development Bureau, noted that Macao plays a pivotal role as a bridge between China, Portuguese-speaking countries, and Southeast Asia. In alignment with the Belt and Road Initiative, Macao is deepening educational cooperation with Malaysia and other countries. He highlighted that engagement with Malaysia’s education sector particularly centres on learning from its experience in vocational education and technological innovation—efforts that will support Macao’s development into a hub for cultural exchange and collaboration, grounded in Chinese culture yet inclusive of diverse traditions. “Looking ahead,” Mr. Teng said, “we will continue to advance international collaboration between institutions, enhancing faculty and student exchanges, joint research initiatives, and cooperation in educational innovation.”

Mr. Howard Lee Chuan How, a Member of Malaysia’s National Council for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), remarked that digitalisation in education offers the strongest shared foundation for cooperation between China’s and Malaysia’s private higher education sectors. He expressed hope that the Forum would serve as a catalyst for collaboration in areas such as digital curriculum sharing, bi-directional mobility between industry and academia, joint laboratories, and hybrid teaching hubs, thereby cultivating future-ready, innovative talent.

During the Forum, Professor Zhong Weihe, Rector of Macau Millennium College, launched the China‒Malaysia Non-Government Digital Education Cooperation and Development Initiative. This initiative advocates for the creation of a new digital education ecosystem between Chinese and Malaysian private universities and institutions. It encourages cross-sector innovation and collaboration among government, industry, academia, and research. With its guiding principle of “Co-Education, Co-Progress, and Co-Thriving”, the initiative promotes the deep integration of digital technologies into education and calls on the global education community to build an inclusive and innovative educational ecosystem—founded on shared values, shared resources, and collaborative talent development.

The Forum was jointly hosted by the Higher Education Professional Committee of the China Association for Non-Government Education, Macau Millennium College, and Merdeka University Berhad, with the guidance of the Education and Youth Development Bureau of the Government of the Macao Special Administrative Region.