Strengthen Malaysia-China Higher Education Ties
Kuala Lumpur, 1 August 2025 — In a defining move to advance Malaysia–China education cooperation, MILA University has extended a strategic partnership with the Hainan International Communication Center, signalling a new chapter in cross-border collaboration in higher education, global communication, and cultural diplomacy.
The agreement was signed during the inauguration of the Hainan International Communication Center ASEAN Liaison Office, held at the Guang Hua Daily headquarters in Kuala Lumpur. The event also featured the Regional Cultural Cooperation Partner Signing Conference for the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor, underscoring the growing importance of regional academic diplomacy.
Representatives from mainstream media, academia, think tanks, and industries from both countries were present, including Professor Dr. Cao Fei, Chief Executive Officer of MILA University, and Dr. Jenny Yong, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Student Affairs and IT.
Expanding Academic and Cultural Cooperation
Some of the key areas of collaboration for MILA University includes:
- Creating a bilateral storytelling and cultural exchange platform between Malaysia and Hainan
- Facilitating research collaborations and student-faculty exchanges
- Leveraging international communication networks to boost MILA’s global visibility
“We are truly honoured to be an ASEAN partner of the Hainan International Communication Center,” said Professor Dr. Cao Fei. “This collaboration expands our reach in the field of global communication and cultural engagement, while also providing new international opportunities for our students and faculty.”
She emphasised that education should not remain confined within classroom walls, but must engage with the media, communities, and the global landscape to ensure students gain a learner-focused and globally aligned education system.
A Shared Vision for Regional Impact
The event, themed “Mountains and Waters Connect Us – A Shared Media Future,” likewise, crafts a wider strategy in connecting cross-border academic engagements across ASEAN and China. Similarly, in February 2025, MILA initiated strategic discussions across Indonesia with Universitas Al-Azhar Indonesia (UAI) and Cyber University to explore dual degrees, values-based collaboration, and student mobility across institutions.
🔗 Read more about MILA’s academic engagements in Jakarta here.
Together, these partnerships will eventually give birth to a growing ecosystem of modular learning, digital innovation, and student-centred internationalisation. This would perhaps be the key pillars of the institution’s vision in shaping a globally connected education platform.
Driving Malaysia’s Role in Asia’s Academic Future
As global education evolves, Malaysian universities like MILA are taking the lead in building meaningful international bridges. It does not just create an academic presence in China for students and educators but also reaffirms its identity as a university that values cultural relevance and a little further into industry, global careers and networking connectivity.
With a growing number of regional collaborations under its belt, MILA continues to position itself at the intersection of education, diplomacy, and innovation, preparing students to thrive as confident, capable leaders in a globally connected world.
