Kuala lumpur: The Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) is hopeful for a larger budget allocation as part of the upcoming Malaysia Higher Education Plan 2026-2035, set to be unveiled next year. Minister of Higher Education Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir revealed that the anticipated funding boost would focus on enhancing various aspects of the nation’s higher education system.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Datuk Seri Dr Zambry highlighted that education financing frequently tops national budget priorities. “If you combine the Ministry of Education (MOE) and the Ministry of Higher Education, we will find that the budget for education is always at number one,” he stated. He expressed optimism about maintaining or increasing this trend with potential new announcements from the Prime Minister regarding the budget.

The remarks were made following the inauguration of the Global Educator Award (GEA) 2025 at Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI). The event was attended by notable figures such as UPSI Vice-Chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Md Amin Md Taff, MOHE Secretary-General Datuk Dr Anesee Ibrahim, and Perak State Assembly Speaker Datuk Mohammad Zahir Abdul Khalid.

Furthermore, Zambry emphasized the significance of the GEA 2025 event in fostering the internationalisation of Malaysian higher education institutions. He urged universities to leverage their unique strengths, citing UPSI’s long-standing reputation in education as an asset for global recognition.

The GEA 2025 programme, held from October 2 to 4, 2025, at the Tuanku Canselor Hall, hosted a variety of events that blended recognition with intellectual exchange. Key activities included The Great Teachers Summit, the MADANI Value Education Forum, and interactive sessions with GEA finalists. The event attracted 244 nominations from 57 countries, showcasing a global interest in Malaysia’s educational practices.