KUALA LUMPUR, Oct. 13 — The International Young Future Leaders Summit (iFUTURE 2025) concluded on an inspiring note, calling upon the youth to embody integrity, intellect, and empathy as the foundation of transformative leadership for the future.
The three-day summit, jointly organized by the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) and Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), brought together young leaders from 50 countries to engage in thought-provoking dialogues on leadership, sustainability, digital well-being, and global citizenship.
The summit served as a dynamic platform for youth representatives to exchange ideas with policymakers, industry experts, and academic thinkers under the theme “Empowering Young Leaders for a Digital Future.”
Officiating the closing ceremony, Minister of Higher Education, Dato’ Seri Diraja Dr. Zambry Abd Kadir, commended the participants for their energy, intellect, and vision, describing them as “the new generation of transformative leaders the world needs.”
“Leadership is not about power; it is about responsibility,” he said.
“The world today is filled with complexity, where humility and compassion are often lost. What we need is a new kind of leadership, one that is transformative, adaptive, and deeply human. I believe you, our young leaders, carry that moral courage to guide the world towards a more compassionate future.”
Dr. Zambry also lauded Malaysia as a living model of diversity and unity, where people of different faiths, cultures, and ethnicities coexist harmoniously.
“Malaysia is a country where diversity becomes our strength, where people of different backgrounds can live together in peace. This is something we must celebrate and learn from as we live together in this global village,” he added.
The Minister expressed his appreciation to UTM’s Board of Directors and Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Dr. Mohd Shafry Mohd Rahim, for their unwavering support in co-hosting the summit. He also acknowledged the contribution of partner universities, agencies, and youth organizations in making the event a success.
“Our Prime Minister is proud of this new generation of leaders. The energy, ideas, and courage you have shown here represent the kind of leadership that Malaysia, and indeed, the world needs,” Dr. Zambry remarked.
Young Future Leaders Declaration
During the closing ceremony, participants presented the Young Future Leaders Declaration, a unified statement outlining five key aspirations that define the vision and responsibility of future global leaders.
The declaration calls for the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digital literacy as essential competencies in higher education to prepare youth for future careers without losing authenticity or empathy.
It also highlights the importance of nation building and resilience, advocating educational initiatives to prevent bullying and the strengthening of industry–academia partnerships through extended industrial training.
In addition, the declaration underscores the need to enhance mental health and digital well-being within higher learning institutions, foster volunteerism through stronger sustainability governance under the SDG 2030 framework, and establish the National Student Volunteer Digital Platform (Volusiswa).
The final aspiration promotes global citizenship and digital diplomacy, encouraging youth to build cross-cultural understanding and practice strategic communication in international engagement.
Collectively, the Young Future Leaders Declaration reflects the shared vision of young leaders determined to shape a more compassionate, inclusive, and innovative world, one driven by knowledge, empathy, and purposeful action.
Source: UTM NewsHub