From September 5 to 7, 2024, the Faculty of Artificial Intelligence (FAI) at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) received a delegation from Universitas Krisnadwipayana (UNKRIS), Jakarta. This inbound mobility program was designed to enhance academic collaboration between the institutions. The visit began with the delegation arriving at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) and checking into their accommodation on September 5.
The primary activities of the program took place on September 6 at Bilik Ilmuan 1, Menara Razak, UTM Kuala Lumpur. The day commenced with the delegation’s arrival at the venue and a warm welcome from the Dean of the FAI. The Dean highlighted the significance of the FAI as the first of its kind in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region, emphasizing its pioneering role in AI education and research. This address underscored UTM’s commitment to advancing AI knowledge and fostering international partnerships. The sessions of the day featured two prominent lectures. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nur Azaliah Abu Bakar, Associate Director of UTM International, Kuala Lumpur, provided an in-depth overview of Malaysia’s “Government Digital Transformation and Analytics Initiative,” focusing on the integration of advanced technologies and data analytics within public administration to enhance efficiency, optimize resource management, and drive innovation. Following that, Associate Professor Dr. Nor Zairah Ab Rahim, an expert on AI Ethics, addressed “Artificial Intelligence Ethics and Governance,” discussing the ethical considerations of AI technology, including principles of transparency, accountability, and fairness.
The program continued with a courtesy visit to Jabatan Digital Negara (JDN) formally known as Malaysian Administrative Modernisation and Management Planning Unit (MAMPU). The session began with a welcome address by Pn. Siti Sapura Raffee, Director of Digital Consulting Division, JDN (Pengarah, Bahagian Perundingan Digital, JDN). Her address set a collaborative tone for the day’s activities. Prof. Dr. Nur Azaliah Abu Bakar, head of the UTM delegation, then greeted the attendees and offered a warm welcome to both the JDN and UNKRIS, acknowledging the importance of the visit and fostering a positive environment for the discussions that followed. Following this, Dr. Ade Reza Hariyadi, Dean of the Fakultas Ilmu Administrasi (FIA) UNKRIS, delivered an appreciation speech. He expressed gratitude for the warm reception and emphasized the significance of the collaboration between UNKRIS and UTM.
The core of the afternoon’s activities included a briefing on the “Public Sector Digitalization Strategic Plan 2021-2025”. This presentation outlined Malaysia’s strategic framework for digital transformation in the public sector, detailing key objectives and initiatives aimed at modernizing public administration through advanced technologies and data analytics. The plan focuses on enhancing operational efficiency, improving public service delivery, and fostering innovation within government agencies, providing the delegates with a comprehensive understanding of Malaysia’s approach to digital governance. The program also featured a token of appreciation exchange among the institutions.
The visit concluded with a photography session, capturing the memorable moments of the program. On September 7, the final day of the program, the UNKRIS delegation participated in concluding activities before departing for Jakarta. The program successfully strengthened the academic and professional ties between UTM and UNKRIS, laying the groundwork for future collaborative projects and exchanges in AI and digital innovation.