The Faculty of Built Environment and Surveying (FABU) at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), specifically through its Urban and Regional Planning program, recently concluded its second academic exchange with Sun Yat-sen University’s (SYSU) School of Tourism Management on January 21-22, 2024. This collaboration focuses on ecotourism research and education, led by Dr. Nadzirah Hosen, who has developed strong educational ties with SYSU’s Dr. Keng Hang Frankie Fan since 2015. The program, which began with an inaugural exchange involving six students in 2023, expanded significantly this year, hosting 32 SYSU students and 16 from UTM.

The event kicked off with a welcoming reception and a campus tour led by Dr. Mohd Alip Mohd Puzi, followed by academic presentations and a productive UTM-SYSU discussion on tourism research chaired by Prof. Amran Hamzah. This session included prominent academics from both universities, enriching the dialogue on sustainable tourism practices. A student workshop focused on designing ecotourism products for the Chinese market complemented the academic discussions.

The exchange also featured lectures from noted experts like Prof. Amran Hamzah on “Regenerative Tourism” and Prof. Xu Honggang on “Situated Elephant Tourism in Asia.” The program culminated in an award ceremony for students’ ecotourism project proposals and a practical mangrove tour at Kampung Sungai Melayu, providing participants with firsthand ecotourism experience.

The UTM-SYSU Academic Exchange Programme 2024 stands as a milestone in fostering international collaboration in ecotourism education, highlighting the value of global partnerships in promoting sustainable tourism and academic excellence.