MoU exchange between UTAR and Zhengzhou Technical College

The exchange ceremony of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) between UTAR and the Zhengzhou Technical College (ZTC), China, was held on 21 October 2024 at UTAR Sungai Long Campus. The signatories were UTAR President Ir Prof Dato’ Dr Ewe Hong Tat and ZTC President Prof Pan Weicheng. UTAR Vice President for Student Development and Alumni Relations Prof Dr Choong Chee Keong and ZTC Vice President Prof Zhang Jianwei represented their respective institutions in attending the ceremony.

The MoU aimed to advance vocational education and cultural exchange between China and Malaysia through student exchange programmes, academic programmes, professional training, and overseas education initiatives. By fostering international collaboration and aligning educational standards, the partnership also aimed to support global talent development. Leveraging the “Belt and Road” projects, both parties will drive digital transformation and globalisation in vocational education.

Second from left: Ms Zhang, Prof Zhang Huizhu, Prof He, Prof Zhang Jianwei, Prof Choong, Dr Pok, Dr Lai and Dr Wong

Present at the event were ZTC School of Information Engineering and Big Data Vice President Prof He Linzhi, E-commerce College Vice President Prof Zhang Huizhu, Scientific Research Department  Teacher Ms Zhang Dandan and GTEX ASIA Sdn Bhd Chief Executive Officer Mr Lee Kuan Peng and Chief Operating Officer Mr Brandon Tan.

UTAR Faculty of Accountancy and Management Dean Dr Pok Wei Fong, Office of International Affairs (OIA) Director Assoc Prof Dr Lai Soon Onn and Unovate Centre Deputy Head Ts Dr Wong Whee Yen were also present.

Prof Choong delivering his speech

Prof Choong expressed, “By signing this memorandum of understanding, we can engage in deeper academic exchange and cooperation with our collaborators at Zhengzhou Vocational and Technical College, leveraging each other’s strengths to support and learn from one another. We also look forward to expanding our collaboration into many more areas. At the same time, we hope that this cooperation will contribute to the friendship between Malaysia and China, adding to the cultural exchange and development of our two economies.”

Prof Zhang delivering his speech

Prof Zhang presented a warm introduction to the city of Zhengzhou and Zhengzhou Technical College, sharing insights into their educational environment, programmes, and community. During his speech, he extended a cordial invitation to representatives from UTAR to visit the college in the near future. Professor Zhang expressed his enthusiasm about the potential collaboration between the institutions, highlighting the value he sees in formalising their partnership through this MoU. He conveyed his excitement for the collaborative opportunities that such an agreement would bring, fostering academic exchange and mutual growth for both institutions.

Dr Wong delivering her presentation

After the exchange ceremony, Dr Wong delivered a presentation titled Shaping the Development of Digital Commerce in Malaysia: How UTAR Cultivates Socially Impactful Digital Commerce Talent in Education and Industry. She elaborated on UTAR’s strategic efforts to prepare digital commerce talent equipped to face future challenges, emphasising innovative educational models and close industry collaboration within the digital economy context. Dr Wong highlighted that UTAR focuses not only on developing students’ technical skills but also on enhancing their sense of social responsibility and practical abilities, enabling them to drive social progress while making a tangible impact on the industry. This presentation showcased how UTAR combines education with industry engagement to promote sustainable development in Malaysia’s digital commerce sector.

Prof Zhang (left) and Prof Choong exchanging the MoU documents

Prof Zhang (left) and Prof Choong exchanging souvenirs