EVP UNIC Health delivers keynote at 9th ASEM Education Ministerial Meeting

The 9th Asia-Europe Meeting of Ministers for Education (ASEMME), a pivotal event fostering intercontinental dialogue and cooperation, took place in Malta between January 25 -26, 2024. Professor Andreas Charalambous, Executive Vice President of UNIC Health, delivered a keynote speech, addressing the vital role of technology and innovation in healthcare education.

Titled ‘Embracing Technology and Innovative Learning Methods in Healthcare Education: A Pathway to Inclusive Growth and Development’, Prof Charalambous’s speech was one of the highlights of the two-day event. The ASEMME, a platform since 1996 for Asia and Europe to engage in multifaceted dialogue, emphasized the theme ‘Leaving no one behind’, aligning with the ASEM Education Strategy 2030.

The meeting, hosted in Malta’s historical city of Floriana, was inaugurated by Dr Clifton Grima, the Maltese Minister for Education, Sport, Youth, Research and Innovation. ASEMME 2024 assembled a diverse group of participants from 30 European states and 21 Asian states, and representatives from the European Union and the ASEAN Secretariat.

Focusing on the ASEM Education Strategy 2030, discussions revolved around four strategic objectives: Enhancing connectivity between Asia and Europe, Promoting Lifelong Learning (LLL), Fostering skill and competence development, and Creating transparency in recognition, validation, and quality assurance in education.

Prof Charalambous keynote speech highlighted the importance of incorporating technology and innovation in healthcare education to address global healthcare worker shortages and promote economic growth. It emphasized the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in personalized learning and patient care, and the need for distance learning technologies to enhance healthcare education and workforce development, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Prof Charalambous underscored the urgency of matching healthcare education with the needs of health systems and concluded with a call to use educational technologies to improve healthcare quality worldwide, in line with the theme of inclusive growth and leaving no one behind.

The conference highlighted the significance of sustainable development and digitalisation, identifying them as essential catalysts for fostering dialogue and cooperation, and in achieving the overarching goal of ASEM – to create a dynamic and cooperative link between Asia and Europe.