PUTRAJAYA, 4 December 2013 – Hosting the Global Higher Education Forum (GHEF) 2013 in its fourth edition was seen as the best platform to leverage the diversity of the ecosystem in the higher education breeching global borders.

Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dato’ Dr. Omar Osman said that the existing diversity includes areas of local knowledge that may strengthen the role of higher education in the international arena.

He said that the existing diversity needs to be harnessed to improve the quality of higher education’s delivery system and become a basis in building a specific model which retained its future competitiveness.

“GHEF 2013 is responsible in providing a discussion space and for brainstorming ideas in development and using diversity in opinions, strengthen cultural relations, and to preserve local knowledge.

“It also plays a role in formulating solutions for issues related directly or indirectly to higher education based on the latest developments at the global level,” he said at a press conference here yesterday.

He added that GHEF was also seen as the best mechanism in assisting the country in actualising a holistic model of higher education through inputs obtained from participants worldwide.

“We believe that the sustainability of higher education future is closely linked with multiple layers of stakeholders both at local, regional and international levels.  

“The role of higher education is not just within the scope of teaching and learning alone, contrarily it also focuses on the contribution of economic development and public welfare,” he said. 

In the meantime, this year GHEF was organised with the involvement of intellectuals from the private higher education sector, Taylor’s University, in line with the theme of “Sustaining Diverse Ecosystem in Higher Education Towards Inclusive Futures”.

Its deputy Vice-Chancellor, Pradeep Nair said, this strategic partnership represents an effort to celebrate diversity for the development of higher education more systematically and with a holistic approach.

“All the diversity gives internal strength to the development of higher education in the country besides providing quality in the various fields available.

“It also managed to add value to the effort in developing a higher learning model based on available strengths rather than just following the western model,” he said.

GHEF 2013 was attended by nearly 200 participants including prominent experts in higher education, among them were university vice-chancellors, rectors, and deputy vice-chancellors.

The launching of GHEF 2013 involved participants from various countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, Korea, and South Africa, and the event was inaugurated by the Director General of Higher Education of Malaysia, Dato’ Professor Dr. Morshidi Sirat. - Translation: Sharifah Darweena Syed Ahmad Amir Feisal/Text: Marziana Mohamed Alias/Photos: Mohd Fairus Md. Isa