JAKARTA – Malaysia is looking to expand higher education cooperation with Indonesia as the neighbouring country steps up efforts to increase the number of PhD-qualified academics under its Golden Indonesia 2045 agenda.
Higher Education Ministry secretary-general Datuk Dr Aminuddin Hassim said both countries have significant potential to deepen collaboration through postgraduate education, student mobility, joint research, dual-degree programmes and academic exchanges, as reported by Bernama.
“Malaysia takes note that Indonesia's current higher education agenda supports the National Transformation towards a Golden Indonesia 2045 by placing emphasis on increasing the number of PhD-qualified academic personnel.
“It is understood that around one-quarter of lecturers in Indonesia currently hold PhDs, with the target of increasing this to about one-third by 2029. Malaysia sees significant opportunities to strengthen cooperation with Indonesia in postgraduate and PhD studies,” he said at the launch of the Mega Ayo Kuliah di Malaysia 2026 programme in Jakarta on July 11.
The programme, organised by Education Malaysia Global Services (EMGS) and the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE), brought together 28 Malaysian higher education institutions to promote study opportunities in Malaysia.
Aminuddin said higher education links between the two countries continue to strengthen, with more than 12,000 Indonesian students enrolled at Malaysian institutions in 2025, making Indonesia the second-largest source of international students in the country.
According to EMGS, the number increased from 9,695 students in 2024.
He said the growing student population provides a strong foundation for Malaysia and Indonesia to collaborate not only on student mobility but also on regional talent development.
Aminuddin said higher education has evolved beyond producing graduates to become a strategic driver of economic growth, technological advancement and workforce development.
He added that Malaysia's priorities in impactful research, university-industry collaboration and the commercialisation of innovation complement Indonesia's research agenda in areas such as food security, energy, healthcare, maritime affairs, digitalisation, artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductors and advanced manufacturing.
“Malaysia believes that the future of higher education in the region must be built together, as both countries play important roles as catalysts for a more open, inclusive and competitive ASEAN higher education ecosystem,” he said.ASEAN higher education ecosystem
