JOHOR BAHRU, Mar 26—The Sharing Session on Malaysia–France University Collaboration was successfully held virtually on 26 March 2025, attracting 119 participants from the Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) community via Zoom. The session’s purpose was to strengthen academic ties and explore collaborative opportunities between UTM and French universities. It’s noteworthy that UTM is a member institution of the Campus France Malaysia alliance, which was previously known as the Malaysia-France University Centre (MFUC).
Campus France Malaysia is the national agency dedicated to promoting French higher education in Malaysia. It serves as a bridge between Malaysian students and French institutions, offering personalized advice and application guidance. The agency also promotes educational opportunities in France and facilitates collaborations between Malaysian and French universities.
As part of its initiative to raise awareness and explore scholarship opportunities, UTM International actively encourages student mobility between Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) and French institutions. This includes programs such as the “French + Sciences” Scholarship and the “Pre-France” program.
The event will feature two invited speakers: ChM. Dr. Mohd Akmali Mokhter from the Faculty of Science and Dr. Zul-hilmi Che Daud from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering (FKM). Both have been appointed Points of Contact (POC) for Campus France. Dr. Mohd Akmali is a former recipient of the MyTIGER (The France-Malaysia Collaboration Programme for Joint Research 2024) award. MyTIGER is a bilateral funding initiative to strengthen scientific and technological cooperation between France and Malaysia. Launched by the Embassy of France in Malaysia, MyTIGER builds upon the legacy of previous programs such as PHC-Hibiscus and MATCH. It supports joint research projects across all disciplines, including social sciences and humanities, focusing on innovation and excellence.
Meanwhile, Dr. Zul-hilmi is a recipient of the Mobility for Researchers and Lecturers grant, and additional information about this grant can be found through the provided link: https://my.ambafrance.org/Mobility-programmes-to-support-French-Malaysian-cooperation-in-research-and.
The session highlighted important frameworks and strategic initiatives under the Malaysia–France higher education partnership, offering insights into existing and potential collaborations in areas such as joint research, academic mobility, and student exchange programs. This gathering served as a valuable platform to generate new ideas and strengthen networks, with hopes of expanding future collaborations focused on academic excellence, innovation, and cultural exchange. The insights shared are expected to promote the development of more structured and impactful collaborations between UTM and its partner campus in France.
One academic staff member remarked, “The session provided a great introduction to the programs and opportunities under MFUC for the UTM community, including students and staff. The speakers were comprehensive in their presentations and shared a wealth of information that will be useful for our future endeavors with Campus France.”
As the organizer, UTM International would like to sincerely thank all speakers and participants for making the event successful. It is hoped that initiatives like this will continue to inspire stronger international cooperation and contribute positively to the global landscape of higher education.