Language Academy Strengthens Academic Ties with UNISMA

Lee Huan Yik

JOHOR BAHRU, Apr 24 – Language Academy (LA), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) continuously seek to further strengthen its academic collaborations with overseas institutions. A case in point is the recent signing of a Letter of Collaboration (LoC) between LA, UTM and Universitas Islam Malang (UNISMA), Indonesia. This strategic partnership underscores UTM’s commitment to global academic engagement, promoting cross-institutional research, cultural exchange, and educational advancement.

On 22 April 2025, Dr. Hadina Habil, Chair of the Language Academy, cordially welcomed Dr. M. Faruq Ubaidillah, an assistant professor from UNISMA for a week-long academic visit to UTM. The scholarly engagement coincided with LA’s Hari Raya Celebration held at White Hall Kempas, where Dr. Faruq was featured as the guest of honour. The festive event provided an enriching platform for international guests, students and staff to engage in meaningful cultural exchanges, strengthening both personal and professional ties.

Dr. Hadina Habil (2nd, right), Chair of LA, together with Dr. Lee Huan Yik (right), warmly welcomed Dr. M. Faruq from UNISMA, accompanied by his wife, Dr. Seri Rahmahwati

At the Hari Raya celebration, Dr. Faruq was also welcomed by Dr. Farhana Diana Deris, External and Global Engagement Manager at the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities (FSSH). Both Dr. Farhana Diana and Dr. Faruq discussed further avenues for academic collaboration to consolidate the partnership. Dr. Lee Huan Yik, from the Language Academy, FSSH, serves as the Person-in-Charge (PIC) for the institutional collaboration between UTM and UNISMA. Together, the team is working on expanding joint initiatives, including student mobility programmes, international conferences, research and publications, particularly in the field of applied linguistics and language education.

Dr. Farhana Diana Deris (far left), External & Global Engagement Manager at FSSH, welcomed Dr. Faruq during the Hari Raya celebration. Dr. Lee Huan Yik (2nd, left), the collaboration PIC from Language Academy, FSSH, discussed potential collaboration opportunities with Dr. Faruq and UNISMA.

During his academic visit, Dr. Faruq actively participated in joint-research activities, including data collection sessions for the project titled “Unpacking the Professional Identity of Indonesian and Malaysian English Language Teachers in the Midst of Global Englishes Era: A Multi-Site Case Study.” As part of this joint-research project between UTM and Universitas Islam Malang, Dr. Faruq conducted two focus group discussions on 23 April 2025 (physical) and 24 April 2025 (online via Zoom) respectively at Language Academy. The focus group discussions were aimed at exploring teacher identity and reflexivity pertaining to challenges and opportunities in the Global English era. The sessions provided rich qualitative insights into teacher experiences and perceptions, reinforcing the academic ties and research synergies between the two institutions.

The Focus Group Discussion was held physically with research participants on 23 April 2025 at Language Academy, UTM, as part of a joint-research project between UTM and UNISMA.

As part of Dr. Faruq’s packed schedule at UTM, he also held an engaging classroom-sharing session with UTM’s TESL postgraduate students. During this session, he discussed key findings from his study titled “Language Teacher Identity from Past, Present, and Future Narratives.“ The presentation invited thoughtful reflections on teacher identity formation and transformation, sparking insightful dialogue among the participants. This session further contributed to strengthening academic discourse and peer learning within the postgraduate community.

Dr. Faruq Ubaidillah with UTM TESL postgraduate students during a classroom-sharing session on language teacher identity narratives, held on 23 April 2025 at the Language Academy.

The visit also extended to UTM’s Faculty of Mechanical Engineering (FKM), where Dr. Faruq and his wife, Dr. Seri Rahmahwati, met with Ir. Dr. Mohd Azman Abas, Manager of External and Global Engagement at FKM. Their meeting at FKM was a productive one as they had discussed niche research areas for collaboration, specifically in material science and renewable energy, with a focus on synthesis of bio-diesel. Opportunities for shared use of laboratory facilities and cross-faculty expertise were explored, demonstrating the potential for innovative, interdisciplinary collaborations that transcend traditional academic boundaries.

A visit to the FKM UTM, with Ir. Dr. Mohd Azman Abas (centre) to explore opportunities for interdisciplinary research collaborations with UNISMA

To sustain this fruitful academic partnership, a reciprocal visit led by Dr. Lee Huan Yik to UNISMA in Malang is currently in the pipeline. This upcoming visit aims to deepen academic cooperation and consolidate partnership between the two universities, culminating in the signing of an memorandum of understanding (MoU) in the near future.

The successful outcomes of this visit underscore UTM’s dedication to fostering international partnerships that drive academic excellence, research innovation, and cross-cultural understanding—aligning with UTM’s aspiration to be a globally connected university and a leader in international higher education.

Prepared by: Lee Huan Yik & Syadiyah Huda Suhaimi