KWIDZYN, Jul 30 – Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) further strengthened its commitment to internationalisation and global academic engagement through participation in the Erasmus+ Staff Mobility for Teaching Programme, hosted by Powiślańska Academy of Applied Sciences (PAAS), Poland, from 26 to 30 July 2026. Organised under International Days ’26, the programme brought together academic and administrative representatives from universities across Europe and partner countries to exchange best practices, strengthen institutional partnerships and explore future international collaboration.

Representing UTM, Dr. Noor Hafizah Hassan, External and Global Engagement Manager, Faculty of Artificial Intelligence (FAI), participated in the week-long programme, which served as a platform to promote UTM’s internationalisation agenda while building new academic networks with institutions from Poland, Albania, Montenegro, Palestine, Oman, Brazil and several other participating countries.

Significantly, this also marked the first participation by a Malaysian university in the International Days programme organised by PAAS, opening a new chapter for future collaboration between both institutions.

The programme commenced on 26 July 2026 with the arrival of delegates from participating institutions. Although designated as an arrival day, the session provided an excellent opportunity for participants to become acquainted with one another and begin establishing professional networks before the official programme commenced.

On 27 July, participants attended the official opening ceremony at the PAAS campus in Gdańsk. The programme featured welcoming remarks by the Rector of PAAS, presentations introducing Poland and the Erasmus+ Programme, as well as the university’s internationalisation initiatives. These sessions provided valuable insights into the institution’s global engagement strategies while encouraging dialogue among international participants.

The day concluded with a guided tour of Gdańsk Old Town, allowing participants to experience Poland’s rich cultural heritage while strengthening professional relationships in an informal environment.

On 28 July, participants visited the Museum of the Second World War in Gdańsk, one of Europe’s most prominent historical museums. The visit promoted intercultural understanding by providing participants with valuable insights into European history and its significance while encouraging discussions among delegates from different countries and academic backgrounds.

One of the key highlights of the programme took place on 29 July, during the university presentation and networking session. Representing UTM, Dr. Noor Hafizah Hassan delivered a presentation highlighting the University’s academic excellence, research strengths, global partnerships and international opportunities available to students and staff. The presentation also introduced UTM’s strategic aspirations and commitment towards advancing innovation, sustainability and international collaboration.

The session generated productive discussions with representatives from universities in Poland, Albania, Montenegro, Palestine, Oman, Brazil, and other participating countries. Discussions focused on potential collaborations involving student and staff mobility, joint research and publications, international conferences, guest lectures, academic exchange and future Erasmus+ collaborative projects. These networking activities created valuable opportunities to establish new institutional partnerships while identifying common areas of academic and research interest.

The final day of the programme focused on workshops covering international project development, best practices in internationalisation, and joint project proposal opportunities. Participants shared institutional experiences, exchanged ideas on strengthening global engagement and explored future collaborative initiatives under the Erasmus+ framework and other international funding opportunities. The programme concluded with a Certificate Award Ceremony, recognising participants’ successful completion of the Erasmus+ Staff Mobility Programme.

As a token of appreciation and to commemorate the successful programme, Dr. Noor Hafizah Hassan presented a souvenir from UTM to Dr. Katarzyna Strzała-Osuch, Rector of PAAS, as a gesture of gratitude for the warm hospitality, excellent organisation and commitment to fostering international academic collaboration.