LONDON, Feb 19 – A delegation from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) successfully conducted an official academic and industry engagement visit to the United Kingdom (UK) from 9 to 12 February 2026, aimed at establishing strategic partnerships with leading institutions in manuscript studies, digital humanities, data governance and Artificial Intelligence (AI). The visit focused primarily on advancing UTM’s old Malay manuscript transliteration project, while also exploring broader collaborations in training, research attachment and digital innovation.

The UTM delegation, led by Prof. Ir. Dr. Hazlina Selamat from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering (FKE), together with Dr. Mohd Saiful Azimi Mahmud from the same faculty, Dr. Akmaliza Abdullah from the Faculty of Social Science and Humanities (FSSH), and Ganesan Andimuthu from the Department of Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation) (JTNCPI). Throughout the four-day programme, the delegation engaged with representatives from the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain & Ireland, The Open Data Institute, Ovation Data Ltd. and The British Library.

At the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain & Ireland, the delegation met with Director, Dr. Allison Ohta, and Librarian, Dr. Edward Weech, to establish research engagement in the field of Malay manuscript studies and digital humanities. Discussions explored scholarly access to rare and significant Malay manuscript collections held by the Society to support research and the development of AI-assisted transliteration initiatives at UTM.

Engagements with The Open Data Institute (ODI) focused on finalising a five-day training programme on responsible data and AI governance tailored for UTM academics. The delegation held productive discussions with Director of Learning & Consultancy, Stuart Coleman; Principal Technical Consultant, Dr. David Tarrant; Senior Researcher, Calum Inverarity; and Researcher Thomas Carey-Wilson. The visit resulted in the process of signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between UTM and ODI, paving the way for a Train-the-Trainer programme, joint training initiatives, research attachment at ODI and potential future research collaboration, particularly in AI-driven old Malay manuscript transliteration and responsible data practices.

At Ovation Data Ltd., the delegation met with Commercial Director, Louisa Moger; Vice President Global Operations, James Laming; Head of Strategic Partnerships and Global Key Accounts, Jasmine Tran; and Business Development Director, Scott Croucher. Discussions centred on collaboration in digitisation and transliteration of old Malay manuscripts, as well as exploring available services and guidance in digitisation platforms and data management systems. The engagement culminated in the establishment of a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA), enabling further technical collaboration and knowledge exchange.

The visit to The British Library included meetings with Lead Curator, Southeast Asia, Datuk Dr. Annabel Teh Gallop, and Digital Curator for Asian and African Collections, Dr. Adi Keinan-Schoonbaert. The discussions explored the Library’s extensive Malay manuscript collection as a valuable source for developing AI-assisted transliteration datasets and strengthening scholarly engagement in Islamicate digital humanities. As a significant outcome, the British Library facilitated coordination between UTM and the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London (SOAS), to retrieve digitised manuscript materials to support ongoing research efforts.

Overall, the visit achieved several key outcomes, including the signing of an MoU with The Open Data Institute, the establishment of an NDA with Ovation Data Ltd. and coordinated access to digitised Malay manuscripts through The British Library. This strategic engagement marks a significant step in positioning UTM as a leading institution in AI-driven Malay manuscript transliteration and digital humanities research, reinforcing its commitment to international collaboration, capacity building and the integration of heritage preservation with advanced technological innovation.