Forging partnerships in Xiamen and Quanzhou

UTAR President Ir Prof Dato’ Dr Ewe Hong Tat led a delegation of UTAR representatives on a four-day educational and academic exchange visit to Xiamen and Quanzhou in Fujian Province, China, from 16 to 19 March 2025. The visit aimed to deepen collaborations between UTAR and several Chinese higher education institutions, fostering innovation and development in the education sector under the “Belt and Road” initiative. The delegation included Division of Programme Promotion Deputy Director Mr Tan Choon Wah and Office of International Affairs Manager Ms Liu Dan.

On their first day in Xiamen, the UTAR delegates attended the launch of the “Malaysia UTAR Study Abroad Service Center (Xiamen).” Established in collaboration with Oriental Edu-Plus (Xiamen), the centre aims to provide study abroad consultation and services for students in Xiamen and surrounding areas. In his speech, Prof Dato’ Dr Ewe highlighted that the centre would serve as a bridge for educational cooperation between Malaysia and China, facilitating more Chinese students to pursue their studies at UTAR. On the same day, the delegation visited the West Strait Institute and signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to collaborate on vocational education and teacher training.

The delegates continued their visit to Quanzhou on 17 and 18 March 2025, where they toured No.5 Middle School of Quanzhou, Quanzhou Normal University, Huaqiao University (HQU), Quanzhou Vocational College of Economics and Business (QVCEB), and Quanzhou College of Technology (QCT). During their visit, they signed multiple cooperation agreements with these institutions. Prof Dato’ Ewe also delivered a special lecture titled The Era of Artificial Intelligence and Holistic Education to an audience of over 100 teachers and students at No.5 Middle School of Quanzhou, discussing the integration of technology and education.

As part of the visit, UTAR, QCT, and Thailand’s Suratthani Rajabhat University jointly signed a tripartite agreement to establish the Teacher Training Centre at the Maritime Silk Road Institute. This initiative aims to develop an internationally oriented faculty to support the educational needs of countries along the Belt and Road route.

The visit yielded significant outcomes, with the signed MoUs and agreements spanning various sectors, including basic education, vocational training, higher education, and international collaboration. Beyond formal partnerships, the trip reinforced UTAR’s relationships with Chinese educational institutions and laid a strong foundation for future Malaysia-China academic cooperation.