The second EU-ASEAN Policy Dialogue on Higher Education, held in Brussels in late May under the EU-funded Global Gateway SCOPE-HE project, marked a step forward in strengthening regional cooperation. Bringing together policymakers, university leaders, youth representatives, and education experts, the dialogue focused on deepening partnerships through exchanges and enhancing the mutual recognition of qualifications and skills between the EU and South Asian countries. 

Key discussions centred on aligning the ASEAN Qualifications Reference Framework (AQRF) with the European Qualifications Framework (EQF). This alignment is crucial for enabling smoother mobility of learners and workers across regions. The event stressed a need to shift from merely recognising qualifications to valuing skills, reflecting the relationship between education, economic competitiveness, and social development. The dialogue also produced a policy brief summarising strategies for enhanced youth engagement, strengthened educational partnerships, and improved understanding of skills recognition frameworks. 

Martin Seychell, Deputy Director-General of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for International Partnerships (DG INTPA), highlighted the EU's commitment to higher education and skills as part of the Global Gateway strategy. YB Datuk Ts. Mustapha Sakmud, Deputy Minister of Higher Education Malaysia, and H.E. Dr Kao Kim Hourn, Secretary-General of ASEAN, joined him in reaffirmed the importance of people-centred connectivity in driving sustainable development and regional integration. 

The activities continued on 28 May at KU Leuven, where a networking event showcased successful models of EU-ASEAN academic cooperation. University representatives explored practical ways to overcome barriers in collaboration and scale up exchange initiatives. 

Since its launch in mid-2024, the EU-ASEAN SCOPE-HE programme has connected over 500 higher education institutions from both regions through Academic Connectivity Grants, supported regional studies on qualifications and quality assurance, and engaged youth through initiatives like the Empower Youth4Food campaign.