GUIYANG, Sept 28 – Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) successfully carried out the Global Outreach Program (GOP), Heritage Meets Innovation: A Southeast Asia–China Academic Exchange, in Guiyang and Kunming, China. This initiative reflects UTM’s commitment to strengthening international collaboration, advancing academic exchange, and promoting cultural diplomacy in alignment with the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Delegation and Purpose

From 21 to 27 September 2025, a UTM delegation comprising lecturers, staff, and postgraduate students—mainly from the Open and Distance Learning (ODL) program—embarked on a transformative academic and cultural visit to Guiyang and Kunming under the GOP. The program aimed to foster cross-border collaboration in education, research, and cultural understanding.

The visit was led by PhD student Sharifah Zarith Rahmah Syed Ahmad, under the direction of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mohd Murtadha Mohamad, Director of the GOP. Supporting the program were Assoc. Prof. Ts. Dr. Mohd Shahizan Othman (Head, Networking and Branding Committee), Dr. Zalmiyah Zakaria (Postgraduate Academic Manager), and Norhafisah Zakaria (Research Knowledge Manager from Faculty Of Computing. Together, this diverse team of students, academics, and administrators advanced UTM’s academic partnerships while deepening appreciation of Southern China’s cultural heritage.

Exploring Innovation and Heritage in Guiyang

The journey began with a warm welcome in Guiyang, where delegates visited Zhengya Digital Energy Company to learn about emerging digital energy technologies. That evening, participants celebrated the pre-Mid-Autumn Festival with a mooncake tasting session and a scenic night tour of Jiaxiu Pavilion, immersing themselves in local traditions.

On the second day, the delegation held academic discussions at the Guizhou Institute of Modern Urban and Rural Economy Development, exploring mobility pathways and institutional partnerships. A campus tour featured the Oudonghua Intangible Cultural Heritage Museum, Ceramics Gallery, and Yi Ethnic Museum, showcasing ethnic diversity and cultural preservation. A joint seminar at Guizhou Minzu University highlighted AI in research and strategic academic linkages, followed by a networking dinner with university officials.

Day three included a visit to the Huawei Cloud Data Center in Gui’an, where students observed smart city infrastructure and sustainable innovations such as a cooling system powered by an artificial waterfall. The group also explored Huaxi Yelanglang Valley, engaging with its visionary founder and learning about the valley’s cultural and geographical importance.

The day concluded at the Guizhou University of Finance and Economics, with a roundtable on smart finance and fintech for rural development. The delegation also toured the Financial Paper Museum at Guizhou University of Finance and Economics, which preserves and showcases the rich history of China’s monetary system through an extensive collection of coinage, banknotes, and financial documents.

Cultural Immersion and Academic Exchange in Kunming

After exploring Colorful Guizhou City, the delegation traveled to Kunming for the second phase of the program. On 25 September, participants visited Kunming University of Science and Technology (KUST) for campus tours and academic dialogues on AI, renewable energy, and heritage technologies. Discussions also addressed student mobility under the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Plus One (ASEAN+1) and Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) frameworks.

A highlight of the day was the postgraduate research presentation session, where UTM students showcased their innovative projects.

Sharifah Zarith Rahmah Syed Ahmad (PhD) introduced her work on Sign Language Recognition using CNN-LSTM, focusing on AI-driven accessibility solutions. Terence Wong (Master) shared his research on Penetration Testing and Intrusion Detection, addressing pressing cybersecurity challenges, while Nur Izzati Sahabudin (Master) presented her AI Chatbot for Study Planning, enhancing academic support systems.

Other notable projects included Hisyam Imran’s (Master) study on Stock Price Prediction using Spatio-Temporal Transformers, applying AI to financial forecasting, and Chong C. L (Master) who explored Cybersecurity in Industrial Systems, exploring protection mechanisms for critical infrastructure. Meanwhile, Muhammad Haziq (Master) demonstrated Data Visualization with PowerBI, simplifying complex data for decision-making, and Soh J. S (Master) showcased Delivery Time Prediction in E-Commerce, optimizing logistics with machine learning.

The session was moderated by Chin Chee Yoon (PhD, Computer Science) and received enthusiastic applause from the KUST community, who expressed keen interest in establishing collaborative academic programs with UTM’s Faculty of Computing.

Final Excursions and Strategic Outcomes

The delegation continued its cultural immersion with a visit to Dali, a historic city renowned for its Bai architecture and sustainability practices. The program concluded in Kunming City Center, where participants explored Jinxing Park, Shuncheng Street, and Jinbi Square, blending modern urban experiences with cultural heritage.

A strategic dialogue with Gui’an Talent Valley capped the visit, leading to several important outcomes. One major initiative is sending Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) students to pursue postgraduate programs in China, as online learning modes are not officially recognized by the Government of the People’s Republic of China.

The dialogue also emphasized facilitating short-term staff mobility through summer schools and academic workshops. In addition, both parties agreed to co-host international technology competitions such as hackathons and the Programming and Algorithm Research Symposium (PARS), building on successful collaborations with institutions such as the National University of Singapore (NUS).

Looking forward, the partnership will include jointly organizing international conferences in technology and education. Plans are also underway to establish a UTM satellite office in Guizhou, further strengthening academic and research engagement in the region.

Conclusion

This strategic visit not only strengthened UTM’s academic ties with Chinese institutions but also enriched cultural understanding. The program exemplified UTM’s commitment to internationalisation and laid the foundation for impactful, long-term collaborations across education, research, and cultural exchange.

Source: UTM NewsHub