Education Is The Most Enduring Form Of Diplomacy - Zambry

KUALA LUMPUR, April 27 (Bernama) -- Education is the most enduring and meaningful form of diplomacy, capable of building bonds between nations as well as hearts and minds, said Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir.

He said such intellectual diplomacy is being exemplified through the flourishing Malaysia-Turkiye partnership, anchored in shared values and deep civilisational heritage.

​“Education is the most enduring and meaningful form of diplomacy. It builds not only bridges between nations, but also bonds between hearts, minds, and generations," he said in his welcoming remarks at the Malaysia-Turkiye Leadership Summit 2026 at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) here today.

Zambry said, in an era defined by technological disruptions and geopolitical shifts, the empowerment of youth and human capital is no longer a strategic option but an absolute national imperative.

According to him, future leaders must be value-driven, intellectually agile, compassionate, collaborative, and courageous.

​“Leadership is not about commanding others; it is about empowering others. It is not about being followed; it is about building others who can lead," he said.

​Meanwhile, the President of the Council of Higher Education, Turkiye, Professor Dr Erol Özvar, said the global education landscape is rapidly evolving, with higher education institutions now serving as strategic anchors for social and economic transformation.

​“Higher education institutions are no longer only places where knowledge is produced and transmitted. They have also become strategic actors that guide social transformation, contribute to economic development, support innovation, and offer solutions to shared global challenges,” he said.

​He also expressed concern that global conflicts and political pressures could marginalise scholars from less developed nations.

​“Students and scholars from relatively less developed countries may face greater barriers to accessing global higher education. Such restrictions would weaken the inclusive mission of universities and deepen existing global inequalities,” he said.

The summit, which drew more than 500 participants, also featured a special session with global icon Mesut Özil, as well as a forum involving Deputy Economy Minister Datuk Mohd Shahar Abdullah and Polity Executive Chair Nurul Izzah Anwar.

The strategic initiative was a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Higher Education, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, and the Sycamore Foundation.

​-- BERNAMA