JOHOR BAHRU, Sept 3 – Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) hosted the first global summit for the field of humanities and social sciences, featuring a Roundtable Discussion and Exchange Ceremony, welcoming leaders from prominent international institutions to collaborate on advancing innovation, inclusivity and impact for sustainable futures. Championed by the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities (FSSH), the summit marked a significant step forward in international strategic alliance and partnerships.
Prof. Dr. Mohd Shafry Mohd Rahim, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic and International) of UTM, in his welcoming remarks, expressed his honour in convening the event. Among the distinguished delegates were Dr. Ir. H. Abd. Rakhim Nanda, Rector of Universitas Muhammadiyah (Unismuh) Makassar, Indonesia, and Prof. Sunday Paul Bako, Vice Chancellor of Taraba State University (TSU), Nigeria. Senior delegates from Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR), Universitas Bengkulu (UNIB), Universitas Negeri Jakarta (UNJ), and Universitas Ahmad Dahlan (UAD) were also present, underscoring the international significance of the gathering. Virtually, representatives from several other universities were also present.
Prof. Dr. Mohd Shafry outlined five pillars for advancing sustainability in higher education: leveraging innovation through digital technologies, fostering inclusivity in learning environments, prioritizing social impact by addressing global challenges, promoting global citizenship through international collaborations, and encouraging interdisciplinary approaches to develop solutions for complex, global issues.
Adding to the collaborative spirit, the Rector of Unismuh Makassar and the Vice Chancellor of TSU delivered insightful guest speeches, sharing their visions on the future of innovation, inclusivity, and social impact in education. Dr. Ir. H. Abd. Rakhim Nanda emphasised on the pathways to achieve transformation – Green, Islamic and Futuristic. Meanwhile, Prof. Dr. Sunday Bako pointed out interdisciplinary collaboration, innovation and inclusive practices, including ways to measure impact.
The heart of the event was the Roundtable Discussion, where three key agendas for 2025 were outlined, each designed to strengthen academic partnerships and promote global citizenship. During the roundtable, leaders discussed academic and research collaboration for 2025, focusing on joint projects and interdisciplinary initiatives. They also planned to co-host the Humanities and Social Sciences Summit 2025, featuring a Student Showcase 2025, with UAD, Yogyakarta, Indonesia as the physical host. Additionally, delegates committed to forming a Humanities, Education, and Social Sciences Alliance to foster global partnerships and long-term knowledge sharing.
The event also featured the Agreement Exchange Ceremony, including a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) and Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between UTM and Unismuh Makassar, and a Letter of Collaboration (LoC) with TSU. The agreements were exchanged by Professor Datuk Ir. Ts. Dr. Ahmad Fauzi Ismail, UTM Vice Chancellor. The agreements solidify commitments to joint academic and research initiatives, laying the groundwork for deeper cooperation across institutions.
In his concluding remarks, Prof. Dr. Shafry expressed his hope that the summit would inspire lasting change and lead to actionable strategies for global collaboration. “Let us take the ideas and insights from today and turn them into action that drives positive change in our institutions and beyond,” he urged.
The event also serves as a prelude to the Royal Intellectual Forum 2024, and the International Conference on Social Sciences and Humanities 2024, co-organized by UTM and UNAIR. Through events like this, UTM continues to strengthen its role as a global hub for academic collaboration, paving the way for future advancements in social sciences and humanities. Photos of the event are available on FSSH Facebook Page, Humanities@UTM.
Source: UTM NewsHub