GUIZHOU, July 26 – Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) proudly participated in the 2025 China-ASEAN Education Cooperation Week (CAECW), held in Guiyang, Guizhou Province, China, as part of a strategic international education initiative. Led by Prof. Dr. Jafri Din, Dean of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering (FKE), along with Prof. Ir. Dr. Hazlina Selamat, Head of Department of Control & Mechatronics Engineering, FKE and Dr. Nurulaqilla Khamis, Senior Lecturer, FKE, the UTM delegation was invited by the CAECW Organizing Committee to represent the university in this prestigious event.
The China-ASEAN Education Cooperation Week is a premier intergovernmental platform jointly initiated by the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Education, and the People’s Government of Guizhou Province. Launched in 2008, CAECW serves as a key avenue to promote educational collaboration, people-to-people exchanges and cultural diplomacy between China and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member countries.
A major highlight of UTM’s participation was Prof. Dr. Jafri Din’s keynote speech on “Building Strategic Partnerships Between Chinese TVET Colleges and UTM”. In his address, he emphasized the importance of developing joint vocational training programs, enhancing industry-ready talent and fostering cross-border research and innovation through institutional collaboration. Prof. Dr. Jafri Din was also formally invited to sign the Agreement of Invitation for Strategic Partnership, reflecting UTM’s growing role in fostering collaborative frameworks with Chinese vocational and technical education institutions.
This year’s CAECW gathered over 1,000 participants from ASEAN and Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) countries. Featuring more than 100 educational and industry forums throughout the year, the 2025 edition aimed to expand dialogue on educational diplomacy, digital transformation in learning and regional talent mobility aligned with the theme “Smart Education Empowering People-to-People Exchanges”.
In parallel with the official agenda, the UTM delegation also reconnected with Huibo Robotics, one of UTM’s valued industry collaborators. Discussions focused on expanding activities at the UTM-Huibo Satellite Lab, located at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, to deepen joint research and student engagement in robotics and automation.
Participation in CAECW 2025 provided UTM with valuable exposure, positioning the university as a proactive contributor in shaping the future of regional education and technology partnerships. The engagement opened new pathways for institutional alliances, joint grants and student mobility programs, while enhancing UTM’s reputation as a strategic partner of choice for cross-border TVET and engineering innovation. These outcomes directly support UTM’s vision to be globally renowned, innovation-driven university contributing to sustainable development in Asia and beyond.
UTM’s presence at CAECW 2025 not only elevated its international profile but also underscored its strategic commitment to Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), regional innovation and global academic partnerships. This engagement is a clear reflection of the university’s continuous efforts in supporting the internationalisation agenda and fostering impactful, future-ready collaborations across Asia.
