‘Let Penang be your platform’: Chow pitches state as Asean education hub with focus on AI, green tech and chip design
Chow Kon Yeow says Penang can serve as a regional for TVET and lifelong learning in the region. — Picture from Facebook/Chow Kon Yeow
Monday, 21 Apr 2025 11:59 AM MYT
GEORGE TOWN, April 21 — Penang has the potential and duty to become a regional education hub, said Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow at the Empowering Education Summit 2025.
He highlighted institutions like Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Penang Skills Development Centre (PSDC), and the Penang STEM ecosystem as key anchors.
“Let us make Penang a testbed for cross-border skill certification, especially in green technology, robotics, and chip design-areas where our industries are actively growing,” he said during his opening addresss at the Empowering Education Summit 2025 at Jen Hotel here.
Chow also pointed to decades of close industry-academia collaboration with global industrial giants like Intel, AMD, and Bosch.
The state, he said, can serve as a regional for technical and vocational education and training (TVET) and lifelong learning in the region.
Chow said so far there was little to no discussions on how US tariff changes affect research funding and education mobility.
He urged the summit to spark deeper dialogue on how global policies shape education and workforce readiness.
Understanding these links, he said, is critical to future-proofing education and maintaining youth competitiveness.
One of the key areas he proposed for collaboration between Asean countries was to strengthen Public-Private Partnerships.
“Stronger academia-industry alignment will be key to curriculum relevance and graduate employability,” he said.
“I encourage more regional firms to co-invest in training academies, internships, and innovation labs.”
Penang, he said, is ready to host projects under Malaysia’s EduTech Accelerator Programme involving artificial intelligence (AI), digital platforms, and blockchain.
He also proposed Penang as a hub for student exchange, Asean research networks, and digital inclusion efforts.
“Let Penang be your platform. But let Asean be our shared purpose,” he said.
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kt comments
In the 50's and 60's Penang Island was already an educational centre for SE Asia. Chinese families in Indonesia and Thai parents sent their children here to learn Mandarin, English and general education. In those days, Penang schools had the best teachers in Malaysia.
Judea and Samaria (West Bank lah), with a population of 3 million, has 13 universities. This includes both public and private institutions. Additionally, there are 9 university colleges, 11 community colleges, and 1 open university. Israel is doing a wonderful job, spend resources for education. In Gaza what they spend donated money on?
ReplyDeletePenang population is 2 million but only 1 university? Please use the land for education and health care (hospital) for health tourism. Also 1 mosque, 1 church, and a few temples.
Time for DAP to have their university. After all MCA and MIC got one each.
ReplyDelete5,000 Year-old Bully land dominates All I AI ,Green Tech and Chip Design.
ReplyDeleteMalaysians in future will be just producing commodities that 5,000 Year Old Bullyland simply does not have physically or has a shortage and importing whatever a tech or manufactured goods they need from 5,000 Year Old Bullyland.
Resistance is futile.