SHANGHAI, Oct 17 — Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) strengthened its international engagement through its participation in the Conference on the High-Quality Development of Materials Science and Engineering and the 2026 Global Deans Forum on Materials, held at Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU), China, on 17 October 2026. UTM was represented by Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Development), Prof. Ir. Ts. Dr. Zaini Ahmad, alongside academic leaders and researchers from universities and research institutions across 21 countries.

The conference marked the 100th anniversary of materials science and engineering at SJTU. The programme featured discussions on the development of materials science and engineering, the achievements and future direction of SJTU’s School of Materials Science and Engineering, and the launch of the Blue Book on the Centenary Development of the Materials Discipline at SJTU. The event also included a round-table discussion on disciplinary development, covering areas such as talent development, research platforms and international cooperation. These discussions reflected the forum’s focus on strengthening academic excellence and advancing the discipline through knowledge exchange and cross-border engagement.

A key outcome of the Global Deans Forum was the signing of the Initiative for High-Quality Development of Materials Science and Engineering through Belt and Road Cooperation. UTM joined SJTU, Chulalongkorn University, Tashkent State Technical University, Kazakh-British Technical University, the Mongolian University of Science and Technology, Nazarbayev University and IMDEA Materials Institute in signing the initiative. The signatories pledged to advance international cooperation in the materials discipline.

The forum also provided opportunities for academic exchange through five sub-forums focusing on disciplinary strategy, research innovation, talent cultivation, international partnership and alumni development. Prof. Ir. Ts. Dr. Zaini Ahmad delivered a presentation titled “Integrated Strategies for Academic and Research Excellence” at Sub-Forum I – Disciplinary Strategy, sharing UTM’s perspectives on strengthening academic and research performance.

The event brought together representatives of universities and research institutions, including delegates from the University of Bristol, the University of Cambridge, Politecnico di Milano, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), the Technical University of Munich, the National University of Singapore, Nanyang Technological University, Seoul National University, the University of Hong Kong and University College London. The forum provided a platform for exchanging perspectives and exploring opportunities for collaboration in materials science and engineering.

UTM’s participation reflected the university’s continued efforts to expand international academic networks and contribute to cooperation in research and higher education. The engagement also provided an opportunity to share the university’s academic and research priorities with the international materials science community.