JOHOR BAHRU, 9 August 2016 – About 114 delegations from 59 universities including 31 Presidents, Rectors and Vice Chancellors from 18 countries from around the globe have attended the 8th Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) University President Forum (UPF) which was held at the Johor Bahru campus.
The three day programme which started on August 8th 2016 was also co-hosted by Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM) together with the Netherlands Maritime Institute of Technology (NMIT) and Southampton University Malaysian campus.
UTM Vice Chancellor, Prof. Datuk Ir. Dr. Wahid Omar said as a Research University with excellence in the field of technical education and engineering, UTM realizes the importance to produce students with global mentality.
“Organizing a global programme such as UPF annually is a good way to produce the global minded graduate besides identifying the latest issues in international higher education and also building the good name of one’s institution.
“The University Presidents, Vice Chancellors and Rectors which been invited will be sharing their knowledge, practice and experience about the latest concepts in global research and education,” said Prof. Wahid.
UPF 2016 is expected to establish an international network that will strengthen the efforts of participating universities and create an active and effective cooperation in research and education.
“The Forum is also the right time for UTM to add as many contacts as possible from foreign universities to discuss the potential of academic cooperation which may be undertaken.
“It has also become our hope that this forum will provide a better platform of idea sharing, model comparison and research strategies in developing the new approach among the participating universities,” added Prof. Wahid.
UTM has also signed the collaboration agreements with 17 universities from Brunei Darussalam, the Philippines, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea and Thailand.
Among the collaborating universities were Far Eastern University (Philippines), Universiti Teknologi Brunei (Brunei Darussalam), Mahasarakham University (Thailand), Kyoto University (Japan), Seoul National University of Science and Technology (South Korea).
Indonesian universities namely Binus University, Institut Teknologi Nasional, Universitas Bung Hatta, Universitas Islam Negeri Sultan Syarif Kasim Riau, Universitas Maritim Raja Ali Haji, Universitas Negeri Makassar, Universitas Negeri Malang, Universitas Negeri Semarang, Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta, Universitas Sriwijaya, Universitas Syiah Kuala and Universitas Trisakti also signed the agreement.