On 12 May 2026, at the invitation of SINGTIS PTE. LTD. (Singtis Group), the International Centre for Higher Education Innovation under the auspices of UNESCO (UNESCO-ICHEI) attended the Malaysia–China Forum on EV, Battery and New Energy Talent Development and Innovation (MCEF 2026), held at the Asia School of Business in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The forum was hosted by Singtis EdTech, China EV100 and GREEM, with UNESCO-ICHEI serving as a supporting organization. Mr. SIT Fung, Assistant Director and Chief of the Global Partnership and Programme Office of UNESCO-ICHEI, attended the forum together with Mr. XU Yifan, Course Product Manager of the IIOE Management Centre, and Mr. ZHANG Boyi, Programme Officer.

 MCEF 2026 focused on industrial development, technological innovation, and talent development in the fields of electric vehicles, batteries, and new energy. The forum served as a high-level platform for Malaysia and China to strengthen industrial collaboration, policy exchange, and talent development cooperation in relevant sectors. The forum was officiated by YAB Dato’ Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid bin Hamidi, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Rural and Regional Development, who also delivered a keynote address. The programme included a closed-door high-level roundtable, opening ceremony, launch of cooperation initiatives, exchange of memoranda of understanding, thematic sessions, panel discussion, and business matching activities.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Rural and Regional Development Ahmad Zahid Hamidi delivers a keynote address

During the forum, Mr. SIT Fung participated in the closed-door meeting with the Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia. At the launch session of cooperation initiatives, Mr. SIT represented UNESCO-ICHEI and joined the Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia, the Ambassador of China to Malaysia, and other distinguished guests in witnessing the launch of several Malaysia–China cooperation projects. These initiatives included the Malaysia–China Green and Smart Mobility Cooperation Hub and the Flagship EV, Battery and New Energy Talent Programme, reflecting the shared commitment of both countries to advancing cooperation in new energy industries, talent development, and industry–education collaboration.

In the thematic session on “Talent Challenges and Workforce Transformation”, Mr. SIT Fung delivered a presentation entitled “AI-Driven Teacher Capacity for Future EV & New Energy Courses”. He introduced UNESCO-ICHEI’s practices in promoting digital transformation capacity building through the International Institute of Online Education (IIOE), as well as its experience in developing micro-certification courses in response to the evolving needs of higher education and industrial development. The presentation highlighted IIOE’s “AI + Industry” micro-certification course portfolio and outlined the initial planning for an “AI + New Energy Vehicles” industry-oriented course programme. It proposed differentiated learning pathways for leaders, educators, students and practitioners through collaboration with universities, industry experts, and enterprise partners, with the aim of better aligning new energy talent development with higher education course innovation.

During the forum, UNESCO-ICHEI representatives also held discussions with representatives from enterprises and institutions on potential cooperation in “AI + Industry” talent development, industry-oriented course development, integration of enterprise practice resources, and localized training implementation. These exchanges provided a useful basis for UNESCO-ICHEI to further expand its network of industry partners, advance the development of “AI + Industry” micro-certificate courses, and explore international talent development cooperation in key sectors such as new energy.

UNESCO-ICHEI’s participation in MCEF 2026 further enhanced its understanding of development trends and talent needs in the new energy vehicle, battery, and new energy sectors in Malaysia and the wider region. Moving forward, UNESCO-ICHEI will continue to build on the IIOE platform and its course development experience to explore the development and application of “AI + Industry” micro-certificate programmes in priority sectors, contributing to stronger alignment between higher education and emerging industry needs and supporting digital talent development in developing countries.