UTAR exchanges MoU with Beijing Union University

Prof Choong (right) and Prof Li exchanging the MoU documents

UTAR and Beijing Union University (BUU) formalised their partnership by exchanging a memorandum of understanding (MoU) at UTAR Sungai Long Campus on 26 November 2024. 

The signatories were UTAR President Ir Prof Dato’ Dr Ewe Hong Tat and BUU President Prof Dr Le Chuanyong. However, UTAR Vice President for Student Development and Alumni Relations Prof Dr Choong Chee Keong represented Prof Dato’ Ewe during the MoU exchange.

Prof Choong welcomed the guests and provided an overview of UTAR. He highlighted that the university initially operated with four rented campuses and began with 411 students across eight programmes. He said, “Today, UTAR has grown significantly, offering over 140 programmes spanning Foundation to postgraduate levels, including doctoral and postdoctoral studies. The university also hosts numerous research centres dedicated to education, research, and industry collaborations.” Prof Choong emphasised UTAR’s global reach, having established partnerships with over 730 institutions worldwide, including 160 in China. He also highlighted the recent notable collaboration with Tsinghua University for dual MBA programmes. According to him, these initiatives aimed to foster academic exchange, advance research, and promote cultural understanding, further solidifying UTAR’s international standing.

Prof Choong delivering his speech

Prof Li stated that BUU, as the only comprehensive university among the 15 universities in Beijing, is renowned for its comprehensive discipline coverage, diverse professional settings, and large scale. The university, merged with several well-known institutions, boasts a high-quality teaching and research team. It has significant advantages in the fields of humanities and social sciences, engineering, and biomedicine, and holds a leading position domestically in tourism management, health management, cultural heritage protection, and special education. In her speech, Prof Li mentioned that she looks forward to exploring future collaborations with UTAR.

Prof Li introducing BUU

The UTAR-BUU collaboration aimed to promote the exchange of academic materials, publications, and information, organise collaborative research activities and develop joint undergraduate programmes. Furthermore, the collaboration aimed to promote student and faculty exchanges to enhance learning experiences and teaching capabilities. Additionally, both institutions aimed to work together to develop courses of mutual interest.

Also present at the event were BUU Business College Dean Prof Dr Jiang Jingjing, College of Art Deputy Dean Prof Dr Dai Wenjun and Standard Research & Training Institute, Hong Kong Executive Director Dr Nova Tan.

UTAR representatives included Faculty of Accountancy and Management Dean Dr Pok Wei Fong, Office of International Affairs (OIA) Director Assoc Prof Dr Lai Soon Onn, Faculty of Creative Industries Deputy Dean for R&D and Postgraduate Programmes Dr Cynthia Lau Pui-Shan and OIA Manager Ms Liu Dan.

From left: Dr Nova Tan, Prof Dai, Prof Jiang, Prof Li, Prof Choong, Dr Lai, Dr Pok and Dr Cynthia Lau