Jakarta, Sept. 17 -- Indonesia and Malaysia have agreed to accelerate work on a memorandum of understanding on higher education cooperation, Indonesia's Higher Education, Science and Technology Minister Brian Yuliarto said.

About 11,000 Indonesian students currently study in Malaysia, underscoring close educational ties and the importance of expanding opportunities for young people, Yuliarto said.

The two countries are committed to completing the draft memorandum, Yuliarto said in a statement received in Jakarta on Thursday.

He also proposed establishing a Joint Indonesia-Malaysia Academic Consortium to expand academic exchanges, joint programs and knowledge-sharing among higher education institutions.

Yuliarto said the proposed conso...