SHENZHEN, Apr 7 – Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) continues to strengthen its international standing as its Deputy Vice Chancellor (Student Affairs and Alumni), Prof. Ts. Dr. Ali Selamat, represented the Vice-Chancellor at the Presidents Forum: Universities as Engines of Regional Innovation organised by Elsevier in Shenzhen, China.

The prestigious forum brought together approximately 20 university presidents from across Asia and around the world to deliberate on the role of 4th Generation Universities (4GU) as key drivers of regional innovation ecosystems through strategic collaboration with industry, government, and society.

In an increasingly dynamic global higher education landscape, the 4GU concept underscores the evolving role of universities not only as centres of knowledge creation, but also as catalysts for economic and social impact through collaborative networks and demand-driven innovation.

During the forum, Prof. Ts. Dr. Ali Selamat was invited to share UTM’s experiences, best practices, and strategic approaches in strengthening its university innovation ecosystem, including the roles of research, industry engagement, and alumni participation as key drivers of future-ready universities.

“Universities today must go beyond knowledge creation to become active drivers of regional innovation ecosystems. This requires strong collaboration across industry, government and society, as well as the ability to translate ideas into impactful and scalable solutions,” said Prof. Ts. Dr. Ali Selamat.

Notably, he was also entrusted to present the key findings and resolutions of the forum, reflecting diverse global institutional perspectives towards building shared understanding in advancing the role of universities as agents of change and drivers of regional development.

The forum featured prominent academic and industry leaders through keynote sessions and strategic discussions focusing on the challenges and opportunities shaping the future of higher education.

UTM’s participation reflects its continued commitment to supporting the aspirations of Malaysia MADANI and the Ministry of Higher Education’s agenda to position universities as hubs of innovation, talent development, and drivers of global well-being, in line with the aspirations of the UTM ASCEND 2030 Strategic Plan.

This international engagement is expected to further expand UTM’s global collaboration network, reinforcing its role as a high-impact university that advances excellence in education, research, and innovation towards sustainable development at both national and global levels.

Credit photos : 2026 Elsevier Presidents Forum Organizer