KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 28 – Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Dr. Mohd Shafry Mohd Rahim, recently visited the European Union (EU) Delegation in Malaysia, where he was warmly welcomed by H.E. Rafael Daerr, the newly appointed EU Ambassador to Malaysia. This visit marked a significant step in strengthening ties between UTM and the EU, reaffirming a shared commitment to advancing global academic and research excellence. Conducted within Prof. Dr. Mohd Shafry’s first 100 days as Vice-Chancellor, this visit demonstrates his dedication to enhancing UTM’s global presence and fostering impactful collaborations.
The primary goal of the visit was to introduce Prof. Dr. Mohd Shafry as the 8th Vice-Chancellor of UTM and to discuss opportunities for deeper collaborations with EU member institutions. The meeting provided a platform to explore synergies aligned with the EU’s Global Gateway Strategy, which emphasizes secure and sustainable connections in digital technology, transportation, health, education, and research systems.
Fostering Innovation in Artificial Intelligence (AI)
As Malaysia’s leading university and the first to offer a diverse range of programs under the Faculty of Artificial Intelligence (FAI), UTM presented its vision for leveraging AI and Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) to tackle pressing global challenges, including energy efficiency, data protection, and sustainable development. H.E. Rafael Daerr praised Malaysia’s efforts in adopting artificial intelligence (AI) as a tool for societal progress and encouraged UTM to lead regional initiatives to improve curricula on critical topics such as data protection and security. He emphasized that Malaysia could serve as a model for the region in promoting responsible AI education and research. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mohd Ariffin, Director of UTM International, highlighted the potential of Erasmus+ to create impactful partnerships between Malaysian and EU institutions, enabling knowledge exchange and collaborative research opportunities.
Future Collaboration and High-Impact Initiatives
The visit concluded with a mutual agreement to organize high-impact events, including seminars and workshops focusing on data protection, AI ethics, and bridging global research gaps. Both parties recognized the importance of addressing challenges in digital security while fostering innovation for global benefit.
The meeting was attended by distinguished representatives from both UTM and the EU Delegation. Joining Prof. Dr. Mohd Shafry were Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mohd Ariffin, Director of UTM International, and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nur Azaliah, Associate Director of UTM International. Representing the EU Delegation were Timo Goosmann, Deputy Head of Mission, and Eero Oinonen, Political Officer. The visit symbolizes a strong partnership between UTM and the EU, ready to unlock new opportunities for innovation, academic collaboration, and impactful research on a global scale.
Prepared by: Nur Masitoh Islamiah Mustaffa Kamal