Kuala Lumpur Malaysia, 24 February 2025 – As part of Malaysia’s Chairmanship of ASEAN in 2025, the Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia proudly announces the official launch of the ASEAN GEMS (Global Exchange for Mobility & Scholarship) Platform, a groundbreaking initiative designed to enhance student mobility and expand access to scholarship opportunities across the ASEAN region. The launch was held in conjunction with the 2025 ASEAN Universities Exhibition and Forum.
The platform was formally launched by YB Dato’ Seri Diraja Dr. Zambry ABD Kadir, Minister of Higher Education Malaysia, with Dr. Marita Canapi, Commissioner on Higher Education (CHED), Philippines, as an honoured guest. The event drew participation from approximately 500 students and representatives from 92 universities across ASEAN Member States. Also in attendance were representatives from the ASEAN Secretariat and SEAMEO RIHED.
ASEAN GEMS is a transformative digital platform that will centralise information on scholarships available within ASEAN member states, providing students with a first-stop repository to explore academic opportunities beyond their home countries. This initiative is endorsed by the Senior Officials Meeting on Education (SOM-ED) and aligns with ASEAN’s commitment to regional integration, youth empowerment, and educational equity.
Fostering a More Connected ASEAN through Education
The ASEAN GEMS platform is designed to address key challenges that have historically hindered intra-ASEAN student mobility, including fragmented information, language barriers, and complex application procedures. By offering a user-friendly, multilingual portal equipped with personalised scholarship matching, a centralised application dashboard, and standardised application processes, ASEAN GEMS will streamline access to scholarships while enhancing visibility for lesser-known institutions and programs.
“Universities are the cornerstone of ASEAN’s future. By enhancing student mobility, expanding scholarships, promoting transnational education, and embracing innovation, we can position ASEAN as a global leader in higher education” said YB Dato’ Seri Diraja Dr. Zambry ABD Kadir, Minister of Higher Education. He announced that Malaysia has secured 300 scholarships for ASEAN students this year or approximately USD 4 million. This marks a significant step toward expanding educational opportunities and encourages other ASEAN universities to join this noble initiative.
Key Objectives of ASEAN GEMS
- Centralisation of Scholarship Information: A comprehensive repository of available scholarships in ASEAN member states, improving access and transparency.
- Enhanced Accessibility for All Students: Multilingual support to ensure inclusivity for students from non-English-speaking backgrounds.
- Promotion of Intra-ASEAN Student Mobility: Simplifying application procedures to encourage cross-border educational exchange.
- Operational Efficiency for Scholarship Providers: Streamlining application management, enhancing candidate outreach, and increasing program visibility.
- Optimised Resource Utilisation: Ensuring existing scholarships are effectively utilised by students across ASEAN.
- Optional Integrated Application Management System. Primarily function as an information and matching portal, while offering an optional application management feature for scholarship providers who choose to integrate their processes.
A Digital Solution for the Future of ASEAN’s Education
Built on a scalable, cloud-based infrastructure, ASEAN GEMS incorporates advanced AI-powered matching algorithms to personalise scholarship recommendations based on students’ academic backgrounds, preferences, and eligibility. The platform also prioritises data security and transparency, adhering to global data protection standards to ensure user privacy and trust.
ASEAN GEMS will also serve as a valuable tool for scholarship providers, higher education institutions, and governments, enabling them to efficiently manage applications, identify well-matched candidates, and gain insights into student mobility trends to inform future educational policies.
A Call to Action for ASEAN’s Youth
ASEAN GEMS represents an exciting opportunity for students, educators, and policymakers to collaboratively build a more integrated and inclusive education system. With its official launch, students across the region are encouraged to explore the platform and take advantage of the diverse scholarship opportunities available.
