The Faculty of Built Environment and Surveying (FABU) at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) has taken another bold step in its internationalisation agenda with a high-level benchmarking visit to Shanghai. The delegation, led by Dean Prof. Sr. Dr. Kherun Nita Ali, comprised senior academic administrators and representatives from the Departments of Landscape Architecture, Architecture, and Quantity Surveying.

The visit underscores UTM’s commitment to building global partnerships and nurturing future-ready graduates. It also comes on the heels of FABU receiving the Internationalisation Award at UTM’s Citra Karisma 2025, reflecting a strong culture of continuous benchmarking and collaboration that is positioning UTM among the region’s leading institutions in built environment education.

During the week-long programme, the UTM delegation visited three renowned institutions at the forefront of education, research, and industry collaboration: the Glodon Shanghai Innovation Centre, the Shanghai Institute of Technology (SIT), and Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU). Each visit opened new avenues for knowledge exchange and potential collaboration in digital construction, curriculum development, and global research networks.

At the Glodon Shanghai Innovation Centre, the delegation was exposed to advanced digital construction tools and technologies reshaping the industry. The session reinforced the recent Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between UTM and Glodon Malaysia, which focuses on embedding Building Information Modelling (BIM) into teaching, training, and student competitions. With platforms such as Cubicost and integrated digital workflows, Glodon’s innovations promise to bridge academic learning with real-world practice, giving UTM students and staff access to industry-standard tools.

The second visit to the Shanghai Institute of Technology (SIT) highlighted the strengths of an application-oriented university renowned for industry-driven teaching and research. SIT’s strong ecosystem in technology transfer, enterprise collaboration, and patent generation aligns closely with UTM’s mission to produce practice-ready graduates. Benchmarking discussions offered valuable insights into SIT’s applied pedagogy and robust internship network, paving the way for UTM to enhance student mobility and industry-linked programmes.

The most prestigious engagement was with Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU), one of China’s most respected universities and a global powerhouse in higher education. In the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024, SJTU’s Architecture & Built Environment discipline is ranked 37th globally and 3rd in China, reflecting its exceptional research output, academic reputation, and deep industry partnerships. UTM’s discussions with SJTU covered best practices in research management, curriculum innovation, and international collaboration—insights that could inform UTM’s strategies to elevate academic excellence and global visibility.

Prof. Sr. Dr. Kherun Nita Ali emphasised that the visit was not merely observational, but strategically focused on building partnerships.
“By connecting with leading institutions and industry innovators, we are strengthening our ability to provide students with cutting-edge knowledge, global exposure, and practical skills that the future industry demands,” she said.

This benchmarking visit goes beyond symbolic internationalisation—it represents UTM’s strategic pursuit of global competitiveness in built environment education. The insights gained and partnerships explored in Shanghai will support curriculum renewal, expand research collaboration, and strengthen international and industry networks for UTM graduates.

FABU’s recent recognition with the Internationalisation Award at UTM Citra Karisma 2025 demonstrates that these global efforts are already bearing fruit. With Shanghai’s world-class institutions as partners, UTM continues to strengthen its reputation as a globally connected university shaping the future of the built environment sector.

FABU – Faculty of Choice

Article by: Sr Dr. Zuhaili Mohamad Ramly and Dr. Lee Yoke Lai

Source: UTM NewsHub