KYOTO, Oct 9 – A delegation from the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities (FSSH), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), led by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mohd Fauzi Abu-Hussin, Deputy Dean (Research, Innovation and Development), conducted a courtesy visit to several units at Kyoto University, Japan, as part of UTM’s ongoing efforts to expand its global academic partnerships.

The visit followed the team’s participation in the International Halal Ecosystem Conference (IHC 2025) in Osaka, providing a valuable opportunity to strengthen bilateral engagement with one of Japan’s leading research universities.

During the visit, the delegation met with Chisato Saito, Research Manager at the Kyoto University Office of Research Acceleration (KURA), to explore potential collaborations between UTM and Kyoto University, particularly in the fields of social sciences and humanities. Discussions centred on research cooperation, academic mobility, and the possibility of establishing a Kyoto University Research Field Office at FSSH, UTM Johor Bahru to facilitate joint initiatives and knowledge exchange.

The delegation also held a two-hour meeting with Professor Shinsuke Nagaoka from the Graduate School of Asian and African Area Studies (ASAFAS), Kyoto University. The discussion opened new avenues for collaboration between UTM’s Academy of Islamic Civilization (ATI) and ASAFAS, particularly in halal and Islamic economics research, as well as future opportunities for joint publications and postgraduate research supervision.

This engagement further strengthened the existing academic relationship between both institutions, following earlier collaborations such as the International Conference on Islamic and Halal Economic Studies (ICIHES) 2024 and joint research projects involving staff and students from UTM and Kyoto University.

Also present during the visit were Dr. Mohd Hafiz Mohd Dasar and Dr. Nur Izzati Mohamad Norzilan. As an alumnus of ASAFAS, Kyoto University, Dr. Nur Izzati played a key role in facilitating coordination and strengthening ties between UTM and Kyoto University.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mohd Fauzi emphasised that the visit marked another important milestone in UTM’s internationalisation strategy:

“Kyoto University’s strong research culture and international standing make it a valuable partner for UTM. This engagement opens the door for collaborative research, joint publications, and meaningful exchanges that will enrich the fields of Islamic studies, social sciences, and humanities.”

The visit reaffirmed UTM’s commitment to building impactful international collaborations, supporting the university’s mission to drive excellence in research, innovation, and global academic engagement.

Source: UTM NewsHub