SHANDONG, Nov 29 – In a strategic effort to strengthen ties in teacher development and vocational education, five academic staff members from the Faculty of Educational Sciences and Technology (FEST) at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) recently expanded their collaboration with Shandong Vocational and Technical University of International Studies (SWUT) in Rizhao, Shandong, China. This initiative was led by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Zakiah Mohamad Ashari. The program, titled “EDUCONNECT 2024: International Symposium on the Internationalization of Vocational Education,” aims to promote a mutually beneficial exchange focused on enhancing the skills of SWUT teachers in the area of internationalization.

The “EDUCONNECT” symposium commenced with a grand opening ceremony at SWUT on November 26th. The UTM delegation, consisting of five academic staff members from the Faculty of Education, Science, and Technology (FEST), received a warm welcome from their counterparts at SWUT.

The morning session began with a visit to the SWUT Teacher Development Centre, where participants gained insights into the institution’s initiatives to enhance the professional growth of its faculty. This was followed by a campus tour, which provided the UTM team with a comprehensive understanding of SWUT’s facilities and academic programs.

In the afternoon, a special lecture session featuring presentations from both UTM and SWUT lecturers was held. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Norazrena Abu Samah discussed “Empowering Education through Innovative Learning Environments,” highlighting the importance of innovative teaching approaches in improving educational outcomes. Dr. Nurul Farhana Jumaat presented “AI as a Supporting Tool for Adaptive Learning,” exploring the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) to enable personalized and adaptive learning experiences. Dr. Nur Husna Abd Wahid also spoke on “Inspiring Sustainable Practices in TVET for a Greener Future through Education and Research,” emphasizing the role of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in promoting environmental sustainability.

Day 2 of the symposium began with a visit to the International Academy of Education at Southwest University of Technology (SWUT), where participants explored the institution’s initiatives to internationalize its educational programs. Following this, the group visited BoYa Kindergarten, SWUT’s early childhood education center, gaining valuable insights into their approach to early childhood education.

In the afternoon, the session featured several special lectures and seminars. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Zakiah Mohamad Ashari from the University of Technology Malaysia (UTM) presented “The Crucial Role of Early Childhood Education for a Sustainable Society.” The final lecture was delivered by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nornazira Suhairom who discussed “Transformative Learning in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET),” highlighting the transformative potential of TVET.

The final day of the symposium started with a sharing session and discussions about potential collaboration opportunities between UTM and the School of Intelligent Science and Control Engineering at SWUT. This was followed by a visit to the Cloud Computing Center and the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Innovation Studio. During this visit, participants had the opportunity to experience the latest technological advancements and their applications in education.

The afternoon session of the final day focused on cultural immersion activities. The UTM delegates had the opportunity to wear traditional Chinese attire known as Hanfu, learn the art of tea-making, create black pottery, and participate in hands-on experiences with folk art, including paper cutting and painting.

The successful implementation of the “EDUCONNECT” symposium underscores the potential of international partnerships in advancing teachers’ development and vocational education. By fostering cross-cultural exchanges and leveraging the strengths of participating institutions, this collaboration paves the way for continued growth and innovation in these fields. In her closing speech, the President of SWUT, Du Lin, acknowledged UTM’s advancements in research and innovative teaching methods, while UTM gained valuable insights into SWUT’s expertise in industrial cooperation and innovation.

In conclusion, the “EDUCONNECT” symposium between UTM and SWUT marks a significant milestone in enhancing international collaboration in teacher development. By sharing knowledge, expertise, and cultural experiences, the two institutions have established a foundation for a mutually beneficial partnership that will continue to grow and support the internationalization of higher education.

Video and news of the program by the SWUT media team are available at https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/eFqVpPrnxKOSUgRqQRrj8Q

Source: UTM NewsHub