UniMAP Steps Up Internationalisation Drive To Strengthen Malaysia’s Higher Education Hub

KANGAR, Aug 28 (Bernama) -- Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP) is on track to further internationalise Malaysia’s higher education sector through a comprehensive globalisation strategy, particularly in engineering, Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), and high-impact technologies.

UniMAP vice-chancellor Datuk Prof Dr Zaliman Sauli said in today’s increasingly complex global higher education ecosystem, universities can no longer remain exclusive or isolated from international developments, but must instead serve as key drivers of cross-border knowledge, technology and innovation.

“In line with the Malaysian Education Blueprint (Higher Education) 2015-2025, which outlines 10 Shifts, the eighth Shift on Global Prominence underscores internationalisation as a key driver of national competitiveness.

“This approach ensures access for local students remains protected, while also attracting high-quality international students to strengthen the university’s reputation on the global stage. UniMAP’s aspiration is to emerge as a regional reference centre in TVET, thereby supporting Malaysia’s agenda to become a world-class higher education hub,” Zaliman said in a statement today.

He said international mobility is among the most crucial aspects of UniMAP’s strategy, with the university having so far received 32 inbound international students under its Credited Mobility programme from institutions such as Institut Teknologi Sumatera (Indonesia), Université de Technologie de Compiègne (France) and Rajamangala University of Technology Srivijaya (Thailand).

Other partners include Gayatri Vidya Parishad College of Engineering (India), Universitas Syiah Kuala (Indonesia), Prince of Songkla University (Thailand), Maejo University (Thailand), Walailak University (Thailand) and ENSI Caen (France), while 11 UniMAP students have participated in its International Internship Programme in countries including Japan and Turkiye.

Zaliman said internationalisation is not merely a trend but a necessity to ensure the sustainability of technical education in the modern world, stressing that UniMAP values diversity among its students, academic staff and international industry partners, which strengthens its ability to produce competitive graduates with global perspectives and strong local roots.

“One of UniMAP’s strengths lies in its close ties with leading technology industries, both locally and abroad. To date, UniMAP has signed more than 220 memorandums of understanding (MoUs) and memorandums of agreement (MoAs), and undertaken over 1,000 joint research projects with industry.

“Through internationalisation, UniMAP expands its network of industrial collaborations, creating opportunities for training, joint research and technology transfer. This is reflected in partnerships with renowned global players such as Intel, Micron, B.Braun, Huawei, Fuji Electric, Altera, Nihon Superior, Qatar Airways and many others,” he said.

Zaliman added that international students studying at UniMAP also serve as ‘little ambassadors’ of Malaysia in their home countries, helping to open new avenues of collaboration in engineering, TVET and technology.

“The presence of international students at UniMAP not only enriches the academic environment, but also drives wider industry-academia collaborations. Through knowledge sharing, academic mobility and technical cooperation with universities and industries abroad, UniMAP builds an inclusive, relevant and globally impactful learning ecosystem,” he said.

Meanwhile, he said UniMAP’s current enrolment of over 470 international students reflects growing global recognition of the university’s academic and research quality.

“With strengths in engineering and TVET, UniMAP is committed to offering programmes aligned with the needs of regional and global industries.

“UniMAP’s achievements in the Times Higher Education (THE) rankings, joint research collaborations, technical innovations and participation in international technical university networks continue to strengthen both the university’s and Malaysia’s reputation on the world stage,” he added.

-- BERNAMA