Strengthening Global Ties: UTHM Erasmus+ Info Session

Mohd Ariffin Abu Hassan

BATU PAHAT, Jan 13 – Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mohd Ariffin Abu Hassan, the Erasmus+ National Focal Point (ENFP) for Malaysia and Director of UTM International, was invited by UTHM International as the esteemed speaker for the Erasmus+ Info Session. This session provided an excellent platform for researchers and academic staff at Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM) to explore the diverse opportunities offered by the Erasmus+ program. The event was attended by 73 participants, including staff and students.

The session began with opening remarks from Prof. Ts. Dr. Rabiah Ahmad, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation). This was followed by a comprehensive presentation by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mohd Ariffin Abu Hassan discussed the ENFP’s roles, opportunities for Malaysian institutions under the program, and strategies for preparing impactful project proposals.

Dr. Ariffin shared his extensive knowledge of the European Community Action Scheme for the Mobility of University Students Plus (Erasmus+) program and highlighted the updates for 2025 to ensure participants were well-informed. Additionally, he provided valuable guidance on crafting strong Capacity Building in Higher Education (CBHE) project proposals, emphasizing the importance of incorporating Global Gateway elements to maximize proposal scoring potential.

<rewrite>The Erasmus+ Info Session at UTHM effectively engaged participants’ interest in exploring the Erasmus+ program further. Malaysia possesses significant potential to seize various opportunities offered by Erasmus+, making it crucial to understand the key strategies for developing strong and competitive proposals. Malaysia’s active participation in the Erasmus+ program aligns with the recent address by YBhg. Dato’ Seri Diraja Dr. Zambry Abdul Kadir which highlighted the internationalization of higher education as a primary focus of Malaysia’s higher education agenda. This emphasis not only strengthens Malaysia’s position in global academic collaboration but also enhances the country’s reputation as a center for world-class education.