Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mohd Ariffin Abu Hassan nominated Malaysia’s First Erasmus+ National Focal Point, Leading UTM’s Global Engagement and Educational Excellence

Office of Strategy and Corporate Affairs | Rohaizan Khairul Anuar

Johor Bahru, 10 Jan – “Bring the World to UTM, Bring UTM to the World” has been UTM’s motivation for its internationalization endeavours. UTM International, comprising Global Strategy & Engagement (GSE) and Global Education & Experience (GEE), plays a pivotal role in realizing the enVision UTM 2025 plan, marking the university’s pursuit of global prominence.

In a significant development, UTM International has made history by receiving the honour and trust of the Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia for the nomination of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mohd Ariffin Abu Hassan as Malaysia’s first Erasmus+ National Focal Point

Erasmus+ is the European Union’s initiative that encompasses education, training, youth, and sports within Europe, playing a crucial role in fostering individuals’ personal and professional growth. The administration of the Erasmus+ program involves coordination among entities such as the European Commission, the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA), National Agencies in Program countries, and National Offices in select partner countries.

Over the years, UTM has been actively involved in Erasmus+ initiatives, serving as Coordinators and Partners for the Capacity Building for Higher Education (CBHE) program, and is considered the most active in the nation.

With this appointment, Dr. Mohd Ariffin, as Erasmus+ National Focal Point for Malaysia through UTM International, will undertake various activities crucial for effectively implementing and promoting the Erasmus+ program’s international dimension.

Firstly, the Focal Point is tasked with the targeted promotion of pertinent actions within the program, involving organizing and coordinating various information and promotional initiatives such as info days, seminars, conferences, newsletters, websites, and fairs, in collaboration with Commission services/EACEA when necessary.

Additionally, the Focal Point is crucial in guiding potential applicants, disseminating program documentation, and offering targeted training and assistance for proposal writing and the application process.

Furthermore, the Focal Point supports organizations and individuals, particularly new entities, to enhance their participation in the Erasmus+ program. This includes facilitating project partner searches and contributing to disseminating and exploiting project results. Importantly, the Focal Point establishes connections with EU Delegations and national stakeholders, fostering effective communication and collaboration to strengthen the overall success of the Erasmus+ program.

The university anticipates that this nomination will not only enhance UTM’s and Malaysia’s global standing in higher education but also foster increased collaboration at national and international levels, thereby reinforcing the resilience of Malaysia’s higher education sector.