ISTANBUL, Apr 10 – Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) continued to strengthen its global presence by participating in the 10th Annual Eurasia Higher Education Summit (EURIE 2025), held from 7 to 10 April 2025 in Istanbul, Türkiye. The summit gathered more than 2,000 delegates from across the world and marked the participation of 20 Malaysian higher education institutions, both public and private reflecting Malaysia’s strong commitment to internationalization in higher education.
UTM’s delegation was led by Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr. Shafry Mohd Rahim, accompanied by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mohd Ariffin Abu Hassan, Director of UTM International; Prof. Sr. Gs. Dr. Mazlan Hashim, Chairman of the Professors Council; Dr. Ahmad Fadhil Yusof, UTM Mobility Manager; and Dr. Farhana Diana Deris, External Global Engagement representative from the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities (FSSH). The summit commenced with a grand opening ceremony and featured a keynote address by Malaysia’s Minister of Higher Education (MOHE) underscoring the significance of Malaysia’s role in shaping the global education landscape.
At EURIE 2025, UTM marked a key milestone by signing two Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with leading Turkish institutions. The first MoU was with Istanbul Gedik University (IGUN), spearheaded by FSSH UTM. This collaboration sets the foundation for joint initiatives under Erasmus+ Capacity Building for Higher Education 2025 and includes structured programs for student and staff mobility. Specifically, the agreement offers two student exchange slots per academic year (each lasting five months), two-month internships for selected students, and five-day staff attachment opportunities, three from the field of Social and Behavioural Sciences, one from Language studies, and one from the domain of Natural Sciences, Mathematics, and Statistics.
The second MoU was established with Ondokuz Mayıs University (OMU) in Samsun, led by UTM’s Faculty of Science. This collaboration outlines multiple areas of cooperation, including joint research initiatives and staff exchange, the development of student mobility programs, exploration of double and dual-degree offerings, sharing of academic data and technical resources, and the co-organization of academic events such as conferences, seminars, and symposia.
UTM’s academic presence was further elevated through three paper presentations delivered by its key representatives. Dr. Ahmad Fadhil Yusof presented a paper titled “Strategic Edutourism Initiatives by Universiti Teknologi Malaysia: Supporting the Ministry of Higher Education’s Vision for Global Impact”, while Dr. Farhana Diana Deris shared insights through her paper titled “Strengthening ASEAN Higher Education: A Roadmap for Humanities and Social Sciences Networks.” Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mohd Ariffin Abu Hassan also presented a paper entitled “UTM Malaysia: A Rising Global Eminence and Premier Regional Education Hub for International Collaboration.”
In support of outreach and networking, UTM set up a dedicated booth at the summit, made possible through the sponsorship of Education Malaysia Global Services (EMGS). The booth served as a platform to showcase UTM’s internationalization strategies, programmes, and institutional strengths to potential partners across the region.
Throughout the summit, UTM Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr. Shafry Mohd Rahim took part in several high-level engagements, including the First Joint Committee Meeting of Malaysia–Türkiye, the Türkiye–Malaysia Higher Education Forum, and the EURAS Executive Board Meeting. He also held a special session with UTM students currently undertaking their academic mobility programme at Istanbul Gedik University, reflecting UTM’s strong commitment to student engagement and global learning experiences.
Additionally, UTM successfully signed 10 Letters of Intent (LoIs) with various Turkish institutions, paving the way for potential future collaborations in academic, research, and mobility initiatives. Notably, UTM also initiated a partnership with Stanisław Staszic State University of Applied Sciences in Piła, Poland under the Erasmus+ KA171 International Credit Mobility Projects. This collaboration will facilitate EU-funded academic exchanges for students, educators, and university staff, further positioning UTM as a proactive player in European-led mobility programmes.
UTM’s dynamic participation at EURIE 2025 not only reinforces its commitment to expanding global engagement but also contributes meaningfully to Malaysia’s larger goal of becoming a premier education hub in the region. The summit served as a pivotal platform for UTM to foster impactful alliances, showcase academic excellence, and champion international mobility all in pursuit of building a future-ready, globally connected education ecosystem.