đź“ť Summary
The Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) hosted a delegation from the Universitas Negeri Medan (UNIMED) in Indonesia for an academic visit, strengthening collaboration between the two institutions. The visit included discussions on joint research projects, co-authoring academic publications, and postgraduate supervision, as well as cultural presentations and language education exchange. The event marked a successful academic visit and further solidified the relationship between UTM and UNIMED.
JOHOR BAHRU, Aug 24 – The Language Academy, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities (FSSH), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), hosted a delegation from the Faculty of Languages and Arts, Universitas Negeri Medan (UNIMED), Indonesia, for an academic visit at Seminar Room 2, FSSH, UTM. Programme Coordinator Dr. Lee Huan Yik from the Language Academy, FSSH, UTM brought together academics and delegates from both institutions for a fun-filled and thought-provoking intellectual discourse.
The programme commenced with welcoming speeches by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Abdul Rahim Hj. Salam, Chair of the Language Academy, UTM, and Dr. Anna Riana Suryanti Tambunan, Faculty Ambassador of UNIMED. The session was also attended by Dr. Ungku Khairunnisa, Associate Chair of the Language Academy, FSSH, UTM, alongside academic staff from both institutions.
One of the highlights was a presentation on Funded Research Projects and Strategic Collaboration, spearheaded by Dr. Masitowarni Siregar, M. Ed., alongside UTM researchers. The session provided an avenue for both institutions to discuss existing and potential joint grant opportunities, co-authoring of academic publications, postgraduate supervision and mobility frameworks. These discussions demonstrated the commitment towards sustained academic cooperation and collaborative initiatives between the two institutions.
The next session featured Dr. Muharrina and Dr Ariatna, who introduced us to the world of Bahasa Indonesia untuk Penutur Asing (BIPA). The presentation explored BIPA teaching methodologies, curriculum design, and learning resources, providing an opportunity for academics from both UNIMED and UTM to share their experiences in language education. The exchange also highlighted the importance of developing effective approaches to language teaching across different educational and cultural contexts.
The afternoon session featured Dr. Agus Prayitno, M.Sn., Tengku Ratna Soraya and Dr. Panji Suroso, with cultural presentations that engaged with diverse academic perspectives while providing greater exposure to Indonesian cultural practices.
The programme concluded with an official closing session, marking a successful academic visit and further strengthening the relationship between both institutions.
Overall, the Academic Visit provided a meaningful avenue for academic and cultural exchange between UTM and UNIMED, facilitating the sharing of knowledge and opening opportunities for future collaboration. Both UNIMED and UTM can also continue to contribute to the advancement of language education and cultural connections through sustained cooperation in research.
