Johor Bahru, 7 Oct – At the opening of UTM Global Connect 2025, Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Mohd Shafry Mohd Rahim struck a decisive note. “Artificial Intelligence is not a novelty; it is a necessity,” he declared to an audience of university leaders, policymakers, innovators, and members of the public representing 25 nations. His words captured both the urgency and the promise of an era in which higher education must embrace AI not as an experiment but as an essential force reshaping societies.
Held at the Persada Johor International Convention Centre, the summit adopts the theme “Connecting Minds, Empowering Innovation, Shaping Sustainable Futures.” More than 90 higher education leaders, cutting-edge research showcases, and cross-border collaborations have converged in Johor Bahru for two days of dialogue and discovery. Jointly organised by UTM International, the Centre for Advancement in Digital and Flexible Education (UTM CDEx), the Innovation and Commercialisation Centre (ICC), and the Centre for Real Estate Studies (UTM CRES), the summit gathers four flagship programmes under one banner: the UTM University Presidents Forum (UPF 2025), the New Academic Learning Innovation showcase (NALI 2025), the 27th Industrial Art and Technology Exhibition and Competition (INATEX 2025), and the 4th D-8 Network of Pioneers for Research and Innovation Summit (D-8 NPRI 2025).
From rethinking pedagogy to unveiling frontier inventions, and from convening global university leaders to linking science and technology with sustainable socio-economic development, the summit reflects UTM’s broader strategy of building ecosystems where innovation, policy, and partnerships converge.
Programme Director Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mohd Ariffin Abu Hassan framed the gathering as more than a conference, calling it “a vibrant global platform that opens doors to collaboration, knowledge exchange, and cross-cultural understanding.” By uniting the flagship events under one roof, he noted, UTM is cultivating “a dynamic ecosystem of innovation and partnership” that embodies both Malaysia’s aspirations and UTM’s global leadership.
This perspective paved the way for the plenary address by H.E. Mr. Peter Van Acker, Ambassador of Belgium to Malaysia, who spoke under the theme “Navigating the Intelligent Age for Global University Excellence.” He reminded participants that the adoption of AI must be tempered with responsibility: “We are the architects of our destiny or spectators of our decline.” He urged universities to lead in ethical research and responsible deployment, stressing that AI should democratise opportunity rather than deepen divides, with inclusive design that reaches communities often left behind, including the elderly and persons with disabilities.
What distinguishes this year’s summit is its sharp focus on artificial intelligence. From healthcare to manufacturing, AI is transforming industries, and UTM has positioned itself at the forefront—not only as the pioneer of Malaysia’s first Faculty of Artificial Intelligence but also as a driver of national transformation. The Ministry of Higher Education has pledged RM50 million in 2025 to expand AI education, with the aim of training 200,000 AI experts by 2030 under the MY AI NEXUS initiative. Already, a survey by the National Professor Council in 2023 reveal that nearly 80% of Malaysian academics are using AI in teaching, while 88% seek its deeper integration into research.
Yet Prof. Shafry reminded delegates that progress must be principled. “Technology must not compromise values—it must reinforce them,” he cautioned, underscoring that the human dimension remains central to the AI revolution.
For UTM, Global Connect is not merely a showcase but a living network where university leaders exchange ideas, industries discover innovation, and policymakers shape the agenda for sustainable growth. “UTM Global Connect is not just an event—it is a global movement,” Prof. Shafry stressed. “By convening leaders, innovators, and educators, we are cultivating alliances that will inspire solutions for a sustainable and inclusive future.”
It is only Day 1, but the conversations in Johor Bahru are already pointing toward bold collaborations, fresh ideas, and new ways of thinking. Delegates are embarking on a journey that may well shape the role of universities in the intelligent age—and UTM has made it clear it intends to be at the heart of that transformation.