Malaysia: Malaysia is strengthening its cooperation with the United Nations University (UNU) in the fields of research, capacity building, and academic exchange following a meeting between the Minister of Higher Education Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir and the university's Rector, Prof Tshilidzi Marwala, today. Zambry noted that Marwala, who also serves as the United Nations (UN) Under-Secretary-General, visited his office to discuss several matters related to higher education.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the meeting provided an opportunity for both parties to exchange views on human capital development, artificial intelligence (AI), innovation, and the role of universities in tackling increasingly complex global challenges. "We also discussed the potential for cooperation between Malaysia and the UNU in the fields of research, capacity building and academic exchange," Zambry shared in a Facebook post.

He expressed his belief that closer ties between Malaysian higher education institutions and international academic networks such as UNU will create more opportunities for researchers, lecturers, and students in the country. This collaboration aims to engage Malaysia in the global development agenda and bolster its position as a competitive higher education hub on the international stage.

UNU, established by the UN in 1973, functions as both a think tank and an international postgraduate institution, supporting the organisation's efforts in research, policy development, and capacity building. Headquartered in Tokyo, UNU comprises a network of research institutes in various countries that address a range of global issues.