The SEA-CICSIC 2025 was officially launched on 25 April 2025 at Xiamen University Malaysia (XMUM).

I had the distinct privilege of attending the SEA-CICSIC prize-giving ceremony on Sunday at Xiamen University Malaysia (XMUM), following a full day of judging on Saturday alongside esteemed judges from across the region. It was truly an honor to be invited by Professor Wang, Assistant Vice President, to contribute to the judging panel—an experience that underscored the event’s commitment to excellence and cross-border collaboration.A sincere thank you is owed to Xiamen University Malaysia for their extraordinary warmth and hospitality, as well as for the opportunity to be part of such an inspiring gathering. The energy and passion of the participants made every moment worthwhile.Adding to the experience, after a delightful Chinese roundtable dinner with elite experts from the top universities from USA and China, we were fortunate to embark on an insightful campus tour led by Vice President Professor Grace Zhang. She shared XMUM’s remarkable journey and vision, and the details were nothing short of impressive: the university now welcomes over 9,000 students, with 50% being Malaysian and the remaining representing 48 countries—a vibrant tapestry of cultures set against one of Malaysia’s most stunning campus landscapes, Olympic size swimming pool, 5 Stars IAEC hotel and a cashless store. What stood out even more is that all courses are taught in English, with only two exceptions (Traditional Chinese Medicine and Chinese Studies)—a testament to its commitment to global accessibility.Congratulations to Xiamen University, Xiamen University Malaysia and all participants from ASEAN and China. XMUM is rapidly emerging as a shining model of international education and collaborative excellence, bridging nations through knowledge and innovation. I eagerly look forward to returning soon to explore deeper avenues of collaboration. ChangeMaker Xiamen University Malaysia Xiamen University China Embassy in Malaysia