UTAR Vice President highlights Malaysia’s higher education excellence at China conference

Ir Prof Dr Goi Bok Min, Vice President (Internationalisation and Academic Development) of UTAR, recently attended the 2025 Development Conference of Characteristic Electronic Information Universities in Nanjing, China. Organised by Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications (NJUPT), the conference brought together leading academic institutions, government officials, and industry leaders to discuss collaborative strategies for advancing education and innovation in the electronic information sector. 

During the main forum on 10 July 2025, Prof Goi delivered a keynote speech titled Belt and Road: The Malaysian Higher Education System, Advantages and Future Prospects, in which he outlined the strengths of Malaysia’s education system. He highlighted the country’s dual-track model, which combines 20 public and 382 private institutions, offering flexible pathways such as twinning programmes and international credit transfers.  

He also emphasised UTAR’s growing global reputation, including its QS Asia ranking of #131 and its 5+ Stars rating, as well as its self-accreditation status under Malaysia’s rigorous Quality Assurance Framework (MQA). Prof Goi underscored Malaysia’s appeal as an education hub, citing the significant presence of 33,216 Chinese students in 2024. He also discussed future-ready initiatives such as micro-credentials and AI-integrated curricula under Malaysia’s 2026–2036 Education Blueprint.   

On 11 July 2025, Prof Goi participated in Sub-Forum IV, themed Promoting Higher-Level Education Opening Up and Building China’s Education Brand, where he presented UTAR’s Internationalisation: Current Status and Prospects. He showcased UTAR’s extensive global networks, including partnerships with 483 universities and 328 corporations across 37 economies. Notable collaborations include dual-degree programmes with Tsinghua University, Purdue University, and Germany’s OTH RegensburgDuring the main forum on 10 July 2025, Prof Goi delivered a keynote speech titled Belt and Road: The Malaysian Higher Education System, Advantages and Future Prospects, in which he outlined the strengths of Malaysia’s education system. He highlighted the country’s dual-track model, which combines 20 public and 382 private institutions, offering flexible pathways such as twinning programmes and international credit transfers.  

Prof Goi also highlighted UTAR’s China-focused initiatives, such as the China-Malaysia Qinzhou Industrial Park Internship programme, which trained 33 UTAR students in 2025, and joint institutes with Xidian University and Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine. Additionally, he emphasised UTAR’s cultural engagement through initiatives like the Confucius Institute and the newly established ASEAN Research Centre for a Community with Shared Future. He also reiterated the University’s commitment to sustainability through advancements in green tech, AI, and health sciences. 

Prof Goi concluded by reaffirming UTAR’s dedication to strengthening ties with Chinese institutions and emphasised the shared goal of equipping students with the skills needed for a digitally interconnected world. His participation underscored UTAR’s role as a key player in global education and its alignment with the Belt and Road Initiative’s vision for academic collaboration.