JOHOR BAHRU, Aug 1 – Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) and Hebei Finance University (HFU), China, continue to strengthen their enduring partnership through a wide range of academic collaborations, staff mobility, and cultural exchanges that have been actively carried out since 2019. Over the past six years, the partnership has seen more than 20 inbound exchange programs in UTM and also HFU students have actively participated in the UTM Edutourism Program at UTM Johor Bahru campus, with six students joining in 2024 and a significant increase to 24 students in 2025. The edutourism program, focusing on English language and Internet of Things (IoT) classes, is designed not only to deliver academic learning but also to expose participants to Malaysia’s diverse culture and heritage.
As part of the program, students engaged in a variety of activities, including cultural visits under the Authentic Johor: A Cultural Journey, hands-on craft classes, a durian festival, a coastal experience in Kota Tinggi, city tours, and a trip to Kuala Lumpur. These enriching experiences combined classroom learning with cultural immersion, reflecting UTM’s holistic approach to global education.
Beyond student exchanges, the collaboration has also extended to outbound staff mobility to HFU. A notable example is the visit of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Thoo Ai Chin from the Faculty of Management, who was invited to HFU to deliver a lecture on PhD thesis academic writing methodology. Such initiatives highlight the knowledge-sharing dimension of the partnership and its role in supporting academic excellence across borders.
The relationship is further strengthened by academic ties, with about 19 HFU lecturers being proud alumni of UTM. They continue to carry with them the values, spirit, and academic excellence often referred to as the “UTM DNA,” which they now embed within their teaching and leadership roles at HFU. This ongoing connection demonstrates the long-term impact of UTM’s global education mission and its contribution to shaping international academic communities.
On 30 July 2025, UTM welcomed a high-level delegation from HFU’s top management, who also took the opportunity to visit their students currently undergoing the IoT Class Summer Program at UTM. The delegates expressed their delight at witnessing the students’ positive experiences, both academically and culturally, during their stay in Malaysia. The visit reaffirmed the strong ties between UTM and HFU, with both institutions committed to expanding the scope of collaboration in the years ahead, creating greater opportunities for students and staff while enhancing mutual understanding and global engagement.
Source: UTM NewsHub