Once again, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) participated in an international event by engaging in the Vilnius Tech International Staff Week 2024, hosted by Vilnius Gediminas Technical University (Vilnius Tech) in Lithuania. Held from September 30 to October 4, the event was themed ‘AI – Advanced Internationalization’ and was fully funded through the Erasmus+ Program Inter-Institutional Agreement grant.
This marked UTM’s third appearance at the event, with its initial participation dating back to 2018, underscoring its commitment to fostering international academic and research engagements.
Representing UTM were senior lecturer of the Malaysia-Japan International Institute of Technology (MJIIT), LAr Dr. Rohayah Che Amat, and librarian officer Noor Ayesha Mohd Ezanee. They joined 19 representatives from universities worldwide, including Al-Farabi Kazakh National University (KazNU), Kazakhstan; University of Jordan (UJ), Jordan; Universidad de Vigo (UVigo), Spain; University of Pretoria (UP), South Africa; National Taiwan University of Science and Technology (NTUST), Taiwan; Kenyatta University (KU), Kenya; and Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), Thailand.
Other participating universities included the Canadian Institute of Technology (CIT), Albania; Pontifical Universidad Javeriana (PUJ), Colombia; and International University of Travnik (IUT), Bosnia & Herzegovina—reflecting the truly global nature of the program.
The week-long program served as an active platform for sharing knowledge and ideas, featuring workshops on the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the teaching and learning process. Delegates discussed strategies for collaboration and explored opportunities to strengthen partnerships further. Visits to various faculties of Vilnius Tech provided insights into the academic and research strengths of the host institution, while informal sessions allowed participants to build deeper connections.
A key highlight of the program was a cultural excursion to Vilnius Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This immersive experience enriched the delegates’ understanding of Lithuania’s cultural and historical heritage, adding a unique dimension to the academic exchange.
UTM’s participation in such initiatives underscores its dedication to advancing global educational standards and integrating emerging technologies like AI to enhance teaching, research, and learning. By engaging in these international platforms, UTM not only expands its global footprint but also nurtures a culture of impactful partnerships.