By: Nur Syamila Kamarul Arefin
BANGI, 11 August – Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) is fortifying regional cooperation in human ecology across ASEAN through the establishment of the ASEAN Human Ecology Consortium (AHEC), a regional platform aimed at advancing research, talent development and knowledge sharing in human well-being.
UPM Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Industry and Community Relations), Prof. Dr. Shamsul Bahri Md Tamrin, said the establishment of AHEC reflects UPM’s commitment to spearheading human ecology networks in the ASEAN region through collaborative initiatives that deliver meaningful impact to society.
“Regional cooperation should not be measured solely by the number of meetings held or memoranda signed, but by the knowledge generated, people developed, communities that benefit and policies that are improved,” he said.
He delivered these remarks during the Human Ecology International Conference II (HEIC-II) 2026, held at Hotel Tenera yesterday.
“AHEC is proposed as a platform connecting human ecology-related institutions across ASEAN countries to expand collaboration in joint research, student and academic mobility, publications, policy dialogue, academic cooperation and community engagement. Good policies begin with the people and must ultimately return to the people,” he said.
The initiative to establish AHEC emerged from HEIC II 2026, which convened academics, researchers, practitioners, policymakers, institutional leaders, students and community representatives from Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines and several other countries to discuss current challenges affecting human well-being.
Themed “Sustaining Human Well-being,” the conference also witnessed the exchange of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between UPM and the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), laying the groundwork for expanded academic and research collaboration between the two institutions.
The conference was officiated by Selangor Menteri Besar, Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari, who is also an alumnus of UPM’s Faculty of Human Ecology.
Amirudin asserted the well-being of the people should be the ultimate barometer of development, with progress evaluated by how profoundly development improves the lives of individuals, families and communities, rather than relying exclusively on economic growth, technological advancement and infrastructure development.
“Government policies must also take into account the realities of people’s lives holistically, including interconnected aspects such as health, education, employment, housing, transportation and the cost of living,” he said.
He emphasised the importance of a holistic approach to understanding the relationship between human development, families, communities, institutions, public policy, technology and the environment, particularly in addressing increasingly rapid social, economic and technological changes.
The establishment of AHEC is poised to further strengthen academic and research networks in human ecology across ASEAN, while unlocking unprecedented opportunities for cross-border collaboration in advancing human well-being.
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