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AiSED Chairman Highlights Competency-Based Education and Micro-Credentials at Asian Lifelong Learning Conference 2026
- AiSED
- Jul 3
- 2 min read
3 July 2026 — Dato’ Steve Cheah, Chairman of the Asia Institute of Sustainability, Entrepreneurship and Diplomacy (AiSED), delivered a keynote address at the Asian Lifelong Learning Conference (ASAIHL) 2026, themed “Bridging Borders and Building Futures: Lifelong Learning for Sustainable Development and Digital Transformation in Asia.”
His keynote, titled “Bridging the Education–Industry Divide: Driving Regional Collaboration via Competency Assessments and Micro-Credentials,” focused on the urgent need for higher education institutions to respond more effectively to the evolving demands of the real economy.
Dato’ Steve highlighted that universities across Asia are facing increasing pressure to prepare graduates with relevant, adaptable, and industry-ready skills. He noted that traditional education pipelines, rigid accreditation cycles, and outdated institutional frameworks are no longer sufficient to keep pace with fast-changing workforce requirements.
A central focus of the keynote was AYECA — the Asia Youth Entrepreneurship Competency Assessment — an initiative linked to AiSED and the UNESCO Entrepreneurship Education Network Southeast Asia framework. Through AYECA, institutions can better assess student readiness, identify competency gaps, and support more practical pathways for entrepreneurship education and graduate development.
The presentation also emphasised the role of micro-credentials as a flexible and stackable approach to lifelong learning. By combining competency assessment through AYECA with validated micro-credentials, universities can strengthen employability outcomes while allowing students to build skills progressively in line with industry needs.
Dato’ Steve further shared AiSED’s regional approach through the UNESCO EE-NET Southeast Asia framework, which is built on two key principles: Harmonization and Localization. Harmonization supports common entrepreneurship competency standards and cross-border recognition, while Localization allows institutions to adapt implementation according to local needs and community contexts.
The keynote concluded with a call for universities and regional partners to collaborate in building a future-ready entrepreneurship education ecosystem for Southeast Asia. Through shared resources, competency-based learning, AYECA, and micro-credentials, AiSED aims to support institutions in preparing graduates who are more adaptable, entrepreneurial, and ready for the digital economy.
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