Sixteen leading research universities from Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore and Taiwan came together to form a strategic inter- and cross-university partnership, built on existing and potential academic collaborations. As a result of this partnership, the University Alliance in Talent Education Development (UAiTED) was launched on 16 December 2019 in Taipei, Taiwan. A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was also signed by the 16 universities at the event.

The 16 founding universities include Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Universiti Malaya, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Universiti Sains Malaysia, and UTAR from Malaysia; City University of Hong Kong and The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology from Hong Kong; Nanyang Technological University and National University of Singapore from Singapore; and National Central University, National Cheng Kung University, National Chiao Tung University, National Taiwan Normal University, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, National Tsing Hua University, and National Yang-Ming University from Taiwan.

Representing UTAR to sign the MoU at the inauguration ceremony was UTAR President Prof Ir Dr Ewe Hong Tat. The Mou aimed to provide the higher learning institutions with a platform to share common interests in fostering talents as well as sharing their respective strengths, experiences and resources with the collective goal of facilitating the cross-regional, multicultural and interdisciplinary global talent development through the partnership known as the UAiTED.

The UAiTED alliance was initiated and supported by the Sayling Wen Cultural and Educational Foundation, with the leadership and coordinating efforts of the Chancellor of University System of Taiwan, Dr Ovid Tzeng. With a shared vision to be the leading global alliance for the development of future-ready talents, the alliance, UAiTED, is committed to the preparation, promotion and development of future talents through strategic collaboration in industry internships, education and innovation and set-up of future directions in the movement and realisation of ideas for improvement.  It serves as the leading independent Asia-wide membership organisation seeking to provide a platform for international cooperation in practice, research, education and innovation.