KUALA LUMPUR – Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) continues to strengthen its position as an internationally recognised university through the active role of UTM International Kuala Lumpur in expanding strategic networks with institutions and organisations worldwide. These ongoing efforts enhance collaboration in academic and research fields and promote student and staff mobility, making UTM a preferred destination for local and international students.

The strategic location of the UTM Kuala Lumpur campus in the heart of the capital city is a key factor attracting students to study here. Its proximity to numerous foreign embassies facilitates institutional engagement with partner countries and enables the smooth organisation of official events, diplomatic meetings, and international collaborative programmes.

Throughout 2025, UTM International Kuala Lumpur received 50 official visits from overseas universities and institutions, including those from China, Russia, Japan, Korea, Switzerland, Singapore, Indonesia, and Taiwan. In addition to physical visits, online discussions were held to further expand global collaboration without geographical limitations. These initiatives were strengthened by the signing of 16 Letters of Intent (LoIs), which serve as the foundation for long-term cooperation in joint research, student and staff exchanges, and academic programme development. Participating institutions included Karshi Engineering-Economics Institute, Namangan State University, and Tashkent State Transport University from Uzbekistan, the University of Wyoming from the United States, and Zaozhuang Vocational College from China.

According to the Deputy Director of UTM International, Assoc. Prof. Ts. Dr. Nur Azaliah Abu Bakar, strong international networks are key factors contributing to UTM’s improved global performance and growing attractiveness to students both domestically and internationally.

“Strategic collaborations with international partners enable the sharing of expertise, knowledge transfer, and the development of high-quality programmes that directly benefit students and academic staff, while also providing global exposure for UTM graduates,” she said.

Beyond academic collaboration, UTM International Kuala Lumpur has also been recognised as an organiser of prestigious international education diplomacy platforms. The Ambassadors’ Roundtable for ASEAN 2025 (ART’25) received recognition from ministries and international delegations as one of the most prestigious platforms bringing together national leaders, ambassadors, and diplomatic representatives to discuss regional cooperation and strategic Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) issues.

UTM achieved a significant milestone when it was selected as the Erasmus+ Malaysia Hub, further strengthening its role as a national reference and coordination centre for European higher education mobility and cooperation programmes in Malaysia. This role was reinforced by the appointment of Assoc. Prof. Dr Mohd Ariffin Abu Hasan as the first Erasmus+ National Focal Point (ENFP) for Malaysia, positioning UTM at the forefront of coordinating Erasmus+ initiatives, enhancing engagement with European partners, and expanding access to mobility and capacity-building opportunities for Malaysian higher education institutions.

In addition, UTM’s leadership in international education was further recognised at the regional level with the appointment of Assoc. Prof. Dr Mohd Ariffin as President of the Asia-Pacific Association for International Education (APAIE) for the term March 2026 to February 2028. This prestigious appointment reflects the global higher education community’s confidence in UTM’s leadership and further enhances Malaysia’s visibility and influence in shaping international education agendas in the Asia-Pacific region.

These achievements in expanding international networks align with UTM’s strong performance in global rankings. In the QS World University Rankings, UTM rose to 153rd place globally from its previous position of 181st, while in Asia, the university improved from 28th to 25th place. Additionally, UTM was listed in the Top 100 QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025, reflecting its academic and research strengths in core disciplines recognised internationally.

International recognition of UTM’s active role in global education was further demonstrated when the university was appointed host of the APAIE Conference 2027, which is expected to bring together higher education leaders from around the world and further strengthen Malaysia’s position as an international education hub.

The combination of strong global networks, a strategic location, improved international rankings, and the organisation of world-class programmes and conferences demonstrates UTM International Kuala Lumpur’s ongoing commitment to supporting UTM’s aspiration to be a world-class university and a preferred destination for international students.