Kao said he was aware many Asean member states were under immense pressure from competing national priorities and the issue of brain drain, with their brightest graduates and even educators seeking opportunities outside the region.
He said Asean must make technical and vocational education and training (TVET) the first choice for students instead of a fallback, considering that it was central to the regional bloc’s economic vitality.
“Our collective task is to ensure TVET is not a pathway to employment, but a platform for innovation, entrepreneurship and regional integration,” he said in his opening remarks at the Festival of Ideas at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre here.
Also present was deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is chairman of the National TVET Council.
Apart from elevating TVET, Kao said there was a need for adaptive learning and values-based education by embracing micro-credentials and lifelong learning, which encouraged upskilling and reskilling.
Asean, he said, should also encourage cross-border cooperation to foster innovation and research. The bloc should also groom scholars to lead higher education institutions.
Kao said research papers should be produced not for the sake of publication but to yield meaningful impact in vital sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, and green technologies.
He said universities must be at the forefront of developing Asean-centric AI governance frameworks, which would not only teach students how to use the technology but to question its biases and societal implications.
He also said graduates must be tasked with building circular economies, advocating for climate-resilient policies and leading the charge for a more sustainable Asean.
“If we don’t act with urgency, our best students will continue to see their future elsewhere and our research will remain siloed by national boundaries.
“Higher education is among the most strategic investments. It is the foundation of our shared peace and prosperity, our bridge across borders and the engine that will drive innovation, productivity, and dynamism in Asean,” said Kao.