ILOILO CITY, Oct 16 – Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) reaffirmed its commitment to advancing regional higher education collaboration through its participation in the 20th Annual Review Meeting of the Asian International Mobility for Students (AIMS) Programme, held from 14 to 16 October 2026 in Iloilo City, the Philippines.

UTM was represented by Dr. Ahmad Fadhil Yusof and Zetty Raihan Mohd Yassin from UTM International, joining higher education policymakers, university leaders, and mobility coordinators from across Southeast and East Asia.

Organised by the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization Regional Centre for Higher Education and Development (SEAMEO RIHED), in collaboration with the Philippines’ Commission on Higher Education (CHED), the meeting provided a platform to strengthen regional academic cooperation and enhance student mobility opportunities.

The AIMS Programme currently connects ten member countries, more than 89 universities, and over 6,500 alumni.

A major focus of the meeting was the implementation of the AIMS Strategic Framework 2026–2028, known as the Bacolod Strategy: Consolidate and Connect, which aims to strengthen regional connectivity, academic quality, and student learning experiences.

Discussions also highlighted emerging mobility initiatives, including AIMS+, which seeks to integrate student exchanges with academic and research partnerships, and AIMS-Serve+, which explores combining student mobility with community engagement and service-learning experiences.

Another highlight was the “AIMS: Learning in Action” session, featuring a marketplace-style exhibition where participating universities shared best practices and approaches to international student mobility.

During the session, UTM showcased its internationalisation practices, highlighting Engineering and Environmental Management and Science as its AIMS niche areas. These are complemented by internationalisation@home activities encompassing intercultural engagement, sustainability initiatives, community service, and industry exposure.

Between 2023 and 2026, UTM recorded nine AIMS student mobility participants, comprising three inbound and six outbound students. For inbound mobility, UTM welcomed two students from King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi, Thailand, in 2023 and one student from Universitas Indonesia in 2026.

Meanwhile, six UTM students participated in outbound exchanges in Japan, involving Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology and the University of Tsukuba between 2023 and 2024. The meeting further explored improvements in mobility processes, student support mechanisms, and the development of globally competent graduates through international learning experiences.

UTM’s participation also provided opportunities to strengthen engagement with existing AIMS partner universities while exploring potential collaborations under emerging regional mobility frameworks.

Through UTM International, the university remains committed to expanding inclusive, sustainable, and impactful international mobility opportunities that enhance students’ global competencies and intercultural understanding.

These efforts reflect UTM International’s aspiration to “Bring UTM to the World, Bring the World to UTM.”