BIMP-EAGA summit will strengthen cooperation among tertiary institutions: Mary Yap

KOTA KINABALU: The Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East Asean Growth Area (BIMP-Eaga) Higher Education Summit will help strengthen cooperation and networking among tertiary institutions in the region, said Deputy Higher Education Minister Datuk Mary Yap Kain Ching.
She said the summit themed 'Education and Social Cultural Understanding for Regional Sustainability' would highlight on the type of tertiary education necessary in developing skilled and knowledgeable human capital.
"I hope this two-day summit will serve as the best platform for BIMP-Eaga member countries to work together in producing quality human capital which would be beneficial to the region," she told reporters after opening the 2017 BIMP-Eaga Higher Education Summit here today.
Also present was Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) vice-chancellor Prof Dr D. Kamarudin D. Mudin.
Yap said it was time for member countries to build their strength through education for the well-being of the nations and people under the BIMP-Eaga.
"Education is the most powerful tool which can be used to change the world. Regional sustainability also depends on the right type of education," she said.
Meanwhile, D. Kamarudin said he was thankful that UMS was chosen as the co-organizer of the summit.
"I hope educational practitioners from the BIMP-Eaga region will be able to discuss and exchange experiences and ideas in this higher education summit.
"Through education, we can create greater cultural understanding, reduce poverty, and achieve social and economic goals of the region thus putting UMS on the right track," he said. — Bernama