ALOR GAJAH, May 16 – Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mohd Ariffin Abu Hassan, the Erasmus+ National Focal Point (ENFP) for Malaysia and Director of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) International, was invited to share his valuable insights on the Erasmus+ programme. The info session was hosted by the Centre for Strategic Corporate & Global Relations (UGLOBE), Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM).
The event began with an opening speech by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research & Innovation), Professor Dr. Zahriladha Zakaria, who highlighted that strengthening international collaboration is a key component of UTeM’s strategic vision. He reaffirmed the university’s commitment to exploring global engagement opportunities, particularly those offered by the European Union under the Erasmus+ programme. As UTeM has had some initial involvement with Erasmus+, including as a partner in a CBHE project, the session provided a timely platform to further explore and expand participation in other components of the programme.
The highlight of the session was the sharing by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mohd Ariffin, who covered the Erasmus+ components, including Mobility for Higher Education Students and Staff (KA171), Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters (EMJM), Erasmus Mundus Design Measures (EMDM), Capacity Building in Higher Education (CBHE), and Jean Monnet Actions. Dr. Ariffin reinforced the importance of participating in international events to connect with potential partners—an essential step for Erasmus+ collaboration, especially as Malaysia is considered a non-associated country. He emphasized the need for Malaysian universities to actively build global networks to increase the likelihood of successful partnerships. As the ENFP Malaysia and Chairman of the Malaysian University International Directors Committee (JKPA), Dr. Ariffin plays a significant role in bridging Malaysian higher education institutions with international regions, broadening opportunities for collaboration.
The session also strengthened ties with UGLOBE, UTeM. Special appreciation is extended to Hazman Hasib, Director of UGLOBE, and Dr. Cheong Kar Mee, Coordinator, for their leadership and coordination efforts. The UGLOBE team was instrumental in managing logistics, outreach, and ensuring faculty engagement. Additionally, a one-on-one consultation was arranged with a university representative who had received an offer to participate in the KA171 mobility programme, to assist them in completing the Inter-Institutional Agreement (IIA) form. Following positive feedback, participants requested a hands-on workshop focusing on Erasmus+ applications. They also recommended future sessions featuring speakers from universities with direct Erasmus+ experience to share practical insights and best practices.
UTeM’s top management, including Vice-Chancellor, Datuk Prof. Ts. Dr. Massila Kamalrudin, also encouraged staff to take Erasmus+ opportunities seriously and expressed strong interest in being involved in upcoming international programmes, such as the upcoming Eurasia Higher Education Summit (EURIE) in September 2025. Looking ahead, incorporating an online component would enhance accessibility and allow greater participation through platforms such as Zoom. Overall, the event showcased UTeM’s growing commitment to internationalisation and positioned Erasmus+ as a key avenue for global academic collaboration.
Photo credit: Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM)
Prepared by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mohd Ariffin Abu Hassan & Nur Masitoh Islamiah Mustaffa Kamal