LONDON, Sep 18 – When Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) brought its alumni together in London for the first time, the gathering offered a snapshot of a university community that now stretches far beyond Malaysia.

The inaugural UTM Alumni Global Connect 2026 @ London drew a full house, bringing together alumni and friends representing six nationalities and professions spanning academia, engineering, technology, business and industry. Some had built their careers in the United Kingdom, while others had continued their education at leading British universities before moving into professional and academic roles. Together, they reflected the increasingly international character of a university whose alumni community now numbers more than 257,000 people representing over 100 nationalities

In the United Kingdom alone, 547 professionals identify themselves on LinkedIn as being affiliated with UTM, pointing to a community whose connections with the University extend across institutions, industries and professional networks.

For Tan Sri Azman Mokhtar, Chairman of the UTM Board of Directors, the value of such a network lies in what its members choose to do with it. Speaking to alumni at the gathering, he framed their relationship with the University around three words: Connect, Collaborate and Contribute. The message was deliberately simple. Alumni can connect people and ideas, collaborate across institutions and industries, and contribute their knowledge, experience and networks to create opportunities for students, fellow graduates and the University.

That message was echoed by UTM Vice-Chancellor Prof. Ts. Dr. Mohd Shafry Mohd Rahim, who described alumni not simply as graduates of the University, but as strategic partners and ambassadors of UTM. In his address, he emphasised the role alumni can play in mentoring the next generation, strengthening professional networks and building relationships that connect UTM with opportunities around the world. With its graduates increasingly occupying positions across academia, industry and the professions internationally, the University sees this community as an important part of how UTM builds relationships and extends its impact beyond Malaysia.

Tan Sri Azman also reflected on UTM’s longstanding role in technological advancement, reminding those present of the University’s pioneering work in artificial intelligence and its role as the first university in Malaysia to establish a dedicated faculty for artificial intelligence (AI). That early investment has particular resonance today as artificial intelligence transforms research, education, industry and the future of work. For a technology-focused university, the challenge is no longer simply to participate in that transformation, but to contribute to shaping it — through research and innovation, the education of future talent and partnerships that connect knowledge with real-world needs.

This ambition sits within UTM ASCEND 2030, the University’s strategic direction towards strengthening research excellence, innovation, sustainability, international collaboration and societal impact. Alumni have an important place within that ambition. A university’s global standing is built not only through what happens in its campuses, laboratories and classrooms, but also through what its graduates go on to accomplish — the research they advance, the organisations they lead, the businesses they build, the technologies they develop and the communities they serve. For UTM, a connected international alumni community provides another bridge between the University and the wider world.

These questions were explored further during the evening through the forum “UTM Beyond Borders: Alumni, AI & the Future of Global Influence.” Moderated by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Che Rozid Mamat, Director of UTM Alumni Relations, the conversation featured Prof. Dr. Intan Zaurah Mat Darus, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic & International), and UTM alumnus Prof. Jerry Heng of Imperial College London. Their discussion considered the implications of AI for universities and graduates, as well as the opportunities for alumni to contribute to student development, international collaboration and UTM’s growing global network.

The London gathering is part of a broader effort to strengthen what UTM describes as its Maroon Circle — a connected community of alumni across countries, professions and generations. Its potential lies less in the number of names in a database than in the relationships between them.

A graduate in industry can mentor a student; an academic can initiate a research connection; an entrepreneur can open a door for another alumnus; and a professional working thousands of kilometres from Malaysia can still contribute knowledge and opportunities to the University. A conversation that begins over dinner in London may eventually create an opportunity in Johor Bahru, Kuala Lumpur or somewhere else entirely.

As UTM approaches its 55th anniversary in 2027, the London gathering offered a glimpse of what the next chapter of its global alumni engagement could look like. Internationalisation is not only about where a university has partnerships or where it appears in global rankings. It is also about people — and the networks of knowledge, relationships and opportunities they create across borders.

The London gathering lasted only an evening. The more important question is what happens after everyone leaves the room. For UTM’s growing global alumni community, Tan Sri Azman’s three words offer a clear place to begin: Connect. Collaborate. Contribute.