HANOI, Oct 31 – The 13th Asia Technological University Network (ATU-Net) Board Meeting was successfully hosted by Phenikaa University in Hanoi, Vietnam and chaired by Prof. Dr. Mohd Shafry Mohd Rahim, Vice Chancellor of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM).
The meeting gathered leaders and representatives from 20 member universities, and aiming to discuss new directions for education, research and innovation collaboration.
ATU-Net is a strategic international alliance with the purpose of connecting technology-focused institutions of higher learning in Asia. Its mission is to support member universities in achieving world-class quality of education and research in engineering and technology through strategic international alliances.
In the board meeting,the members agreed on many important orientations for the new phase of the network (2025-2027), focusing on improving the operational efficiency of Special Interest Groups (SIGs), promoting international publications and joint research cooperation among member schools, and expanding exchange programmes, research internships and cross-border innovation.
The issues discussed at the meeting contribute to shaping a new vision for Asian technology higher education, focusing on connection, innovation, and sustainable development.
“ATU-Net that was founded in 2016 during the 8th University Presidents Forum, has grown into an alliance of 50 universities across Asia — with a clear purpose: to connect, collaborate, and contribute towards global prominence in higher education and technological innovation,” said Prof. Dr. Mohd Shafry.
He further said, “As we gather here in Hanoi, that founding purpose is more relevant than ever, especially in a world where international collaboration in higher education is not a luxury, but a necessity.”
The chairman took the opportunity to share the achievements of ATU-Net for the year 2025 in executing impactful programmes and fostering successful collaborations with strategic partners. It contributed to the formation of an innovative and cross-border academic community.
“Through ATU-Net’s various initiatives, such as academic staff and student mobility programmes, joint research projects, student innovation competitions, leadership development workshops and more, we have strengthened the Asia-Pacific higher education landscape, enabling collaboration that would have been difficult to achieve in isolation.”
The impactful programmes include International Staff Week, Student Leader Forum, Innovation and Entrepreneurship (InvENT) Conference, and Integrated Design for Sustainability Challenge.
He said UTM is proud to lead ATU-Net in strengthening regional solidarity and fostering technology-driven education and research for a sustainable and resilient Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), in line with the spirit of ASEAN 2025: Inclusivity and Sustainability.
This year’s board meeting witnessed addition of new members — Davao Oriental State University (DOrSU), Mindanao State University at Naawan (MSU-Naawan) and Batangas State University (BatStateU) from Philippines, as well as Biruni University from Türkiye, to create more impact beyond borders.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing ceremony was organised, eyeing further cooperation among ATU-Net members.
Guided by its mission, ATU-Net aspires to strengthen collaboration and cohesion among Asian universities, providing a dynamic platform that helps all members remain relevant and competitive in the global higher education landscape.
Source: UTM NewsHub
