The Malaysian-American Commission on Educational Exchange (MACEE) was founded in 1963 as a binational commission for Malaysia and the United States to promote educational exchange between the two countries. MACEE’s founding document is a bilateral agreement ratified by the governments of Malaysia and the United States. MACEE is one of 50 such commissions worldwide.

As is the case with other binational Fulbright commissions around the world, MACEE is a not-for-profit organization and is overseen by a Board of Directors. MACEE’s Board consists of 10 regular members (five from each country) and two Honorary Co-Chairmen: The U.S. Ambassador to Malaysia and the Malaysian Minister of Education. These two Honorary Co-Chairs appoint the five regular members to the Board who will represent their respective countries.

Although the focus lies on the Fulbright Grant programs, MACEE has over the years occupied an increasingly larger role in the overall binational educational partnership. Today, MACEE houses two important sections: the Fulbright program and EducationUSA Malaysia.

The Fulbright program was established when President Harry Truman signed a legislation to use surplus war funding for international education exchanges which aim to increase mutual understanding between the people of America and other countries through classroom teaching and community engagement. The program eventually expanded and is now administered globally.