The third forum of ASEAN-China Private Higher Education Development and Cooperation and the first annual meeting of the ASEAN-China Alliance of Private Higher Education Institutions (ACAPHEI) were held on 12 December 2019 at University of Sanya (USY), China. The event saw UTAR signing a memorandum of cooperation with USY to establish an international platform for exchange in response to the Belt and Road Initiative.

Supported by ASEAN-China Center (ACC), China-ASEAN Education Cooperation Week (CAECW) and Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO RIHED), more than 60 guests from China and ASEAN countries gathered at the tropical city of Sanya, Hainan for the third forum of ASEAN-China Private Higher Education Development and Cooperation to discuss the blueprints of transnational cooperation in private higher education as well as its new practices.

Leaders from various universities came together to share their experiences in operating private higher education institutions, education-industry synergy and innovation in driving development. Moreover, presidents and representatives of universities and educational institutions from Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand also took part in lively discussions on the new opportunities and challenges faced by ASEAN-China private higher education.

The event continued with the signing of ACAPHEI Charter by USY. The cooperation agreement was signed with several famous private universities from ASEAN countries including UTAR (Malaysia), Yarsi University (Indonesia) and Sripatum University (Thailand). The ACAPHEI aimed to focus on the development prospect of a “mutually-centered and mutual-campus” to actively build the “ASEAN-China Education Community”. Besides, it also aimed to highlight some key cooperation projects. An innovative blueprint was drawn to further improve the construction and operation of the ACAPHEI.

Representing UTAR to sign ACAPHEI Charter and attend the first annual meeting of the ASEAN-China Alliance of Private Higher Education Institutions was UTAR President Ir Prof Dr Ewe Hong Tat.