Education is Asean’s real engine for integration and growth

AT THE Asean Summit in Kuala Lumpur this October, an important shift took place. From panel discussions to corridor conversations, one theme became unmistakable: Education has moved from being seen as a social sector to being recognised as Asean’s most strategic economic and integration priority.

With an estimated gross domestic product of US$4.13 trillion and a population of about 686 million, Asean stands at an inflection point. Artificial intelligence (AI), automation and the green economy are reshaping industries faster than any previous wave of disruption. Employers from manufacturing to finance now demand adaptable, digitally capable talent.

Meanwhile, a new generation of Asean youth, who are globally connected and extraordinarily ambitious, is entering a workplace that feels unfamiliar, unpredictable and unforgiving.