Marketability of graduates raised

By Narissa Noor

He addressed the amalgamation of education and the labour market, and the enhancing of employability and lifelong learning.

With the continuous expansion of knowledge and technological advancements, Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Lela Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Abdul Rahman Taib asserted the need for the workforce to constantly upgrade their skills or even change careers. It is essential to train them to be flexible and adaptable to change, he said.

The minister was among the conference delegates from 36 countries, including the EU, Asean, China, Pakistan, Japan and Mongolia, last May 5.

With "Education and Training for Tomorrow: Common Perspectives in Asia and Europe" in mind, the conference tabled two major discussion papers on "EU-Asia higher education cooperation" and "Education and the labour market".

The minister of education welcomed the proposal for strengthening cooperation in higher education and forging strategic partnerships, between EU and Asia and within Asia.

This could have the potential to enhance capacity building and institutional development of partner institutions of participating countries, and help pave the way for countries in both Asia and Europe to internationalise its higher education sectors, especially for small states like Brunei Darussalam, he said.

The minister pointed out the need to address the imbalance involving flow and mobility of students between Europe and Asia. He suggested that partnerships can help enhance the quality and profile of programmes provided by participating institutions, which could in turn result in the wider niche programmes and joint research in its national higher education institutions.

It was also pointed out that with an increase flow of overseas students, internationalisation of the higher education sector could be accelerated.

The minister welcomed the possibility of greater collaboration in research with regard to evidence-based practice, research and policy making for lifelong learning through the work of such groupings like the ASEM Education and Research Hub for Lifelong Learning.

He also hoped that through collaboration and partnerships, ASEM will be able to help small countries like Brunei to build its capacity and to give its citizens greater access to a wide range of training programmes, including industrial attachments in key industries in Europe and Asia, throughout their working lives to optimise the economic well-being of the country.

Brought to light was the growing need for more intensive cooperation between Europe and Asia, stressing the increased economic interdependence of the two regions.

Highlighted was the importance of the ASEM Education Ministerial Meeting in Berlin as an important first step towards strengthening the dialogue and fostering cooperation between ASEM partners in the field of education and training.

The meeting emphasised the key element for educating qualified and employable citizens and promoting economic growth by ensuring the quality and competitiveness of higher education systems and institutions.

Country representatives acknowledged the rapid social and economic changes and demographic challenges in both regions and the need for education systems to deliver broad general knowledge and labour-market related competencies and skills.

Meanwhile, the set up of a strategic Asia-Europe education partnership for the 21st century was agreed upon to strengthen the ASEM dialogue and cooperation in the field of education to include stakeholders at all levels.

Country representatives agreed to convene a second Ministerial Meeting on Education in Vietnam in 2009 and work together to internationalise their education systems and to encourage the internationalisation of institutions, especially in higher education.

Held as a result of the previous ASEM Summit held in Helsinki, the outcome of the conference will be submitted to the next Summit in Beijing in October 2008.