Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) has continued to strengthen its position as a globally engaged university in line with the UMT Strategic Planning agenda, which emphasises internationalisation, research excellence, talent development, and sustainable impact. Strategic international partnerships have served as a key enabler in achieving these priorities by enhancing academic quality, research collaboration, global visibility, and graduate employability.

Aligned with UMT’s strategic thrusts, partnerships with Japan, the United Kingdom (UK), the European Union (EU), and ASEAN have been identified as major drivers of institutional growth, international relevance, and long-term sustainability.

Partnership with Japan

In support of UMT’s strategic focus on research excellence and niche areas, Japan has remained one of UMT’s most significant international partners, particularly in marine science, fisheries, environmental sustainability, and applied technology. UMT currently maintains several active Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) with reputable Japanese institutions, including Kagoshima University, Mie University, Nagasaki University, National Academy and Marine Research Kumamoto University and Tsukuba University.

These collaborations have facilitated joint research projects, co-publications, academic exchanges, technology transfer, and capacity-building initiatives. Through sustained engagement with Japanese partners, UMT has continued to strengthen its research ecosystem, expand international research networks, and reinforce its aspiration to be a leading institution in marine and environmental studies. Collectively, these efforts have contributed to innovation and sustainable solutions aligned with national and global priorities.

In addition, UMT’s partnership with Japan has received strong support from the Embassy of Japan in Malaysia, reflecting the growing recognition of UMT’s role in strengthening Malaysia–Japan academic relations. This has been further reinforced through a courtesy visit by His Excellency Mr. Shikata Noriyuki, Ambassador of Japan to Malaysia, to Universiti Malaysia Terengganu on 27 August 2025.

Following this engagement, the Embassy of Japan has extended an official invitation to UMT to participate in the JENESYS 2025 Programme (Malaysia–Japan Academic Exchange Programme). As a result, one UMT academic staff member has been successfully selected to participate in the programme with full sponsorship, marking a significant milestone in UMT’s international academic engagement with Japan.

This achievement has not only strengthened institutional ties between UMT and Japanese stakeholders but also enhanced UMT’s international visibility, academic diplomacy, and capacity for high-impact international collaboration in line with its strategic planning agenda.

Partnership with the United Kingdom (UK)

UMT’s collaboration with institutions in the United Kingdom has supported the university’s strategic objective of enhancing academic quality, global benchmarking, and programme competitiveness. UMT currently maintains eight active Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) with institutions in the UK, reflecting a strong and sustained academic relationship.

Through these engagements, UMT has benefitted from internationally recognised academic practices and quality assurance frameworks, contributing to the development of future-ready graduates and the delivery of internationally competitive academic programmes.

In addition, UMT has been actively involved in inbound student mobility programmes with Heriot-Watt University, where UMT has hosted UK students at its campus through a flagship annual mobility programme. This programme is organised by the Faculty of Science and Marine Environment (FSSM) under the leadership of Associate Professor Dr. Siti Tahirah Jaffar. The programme provides students with academic exposure, experiential learning, and cross-cultural engagement, while simultaneously strengthening UMT’s international visibility and reinforcing its reputation as a preferred destination for inbound mobility within the UK–Malaysia academic collaboration framework

Partnership with the European Union (EU)

The European Union has been a key strategic partner for UMT, particularly through Erasmus+ and other EU-funded initiatives, which align closely with UMT’s strategic priorities on student and staff mobility, institutional capacity building, and international exposure.

Notably, Prof. Ts. Dr. Kesaven a/l Bhubalan has been actively engaged in Erasmus+ Capacity Building in Higher Education (CBHE) projects funded by the European Union with partners from Asia and Europe. He has received two Erasmus+ CBHE grants totalling approximately RM 4.8 million. The CBHE projects focuses on management and operation of marine conservation monitoring lab for the protection of marine life from pressures imposed by climate change and plastic marine debris (ECOMARINE:- https://ecomarine-project.eu/) as well as at the advancement and integration of the sustainable blue economy within higher education institution (SustainaBlue:- https://sustainablue-project.eu/). Through these projects, Prof. Kesaven has established research collaborations with reputable higher education institutions and agencies in countries such as Spain, Cyprus, Greece, India, and Indonesia. Besides, with regards to his leadership expertise in capacity building and project management, he has been invited as a panel to discuss adapting learning content and teaching methods to achieve climate goals during the Regional Erasmus+ Cluster Meeting and Contact-Making Seminar 2025 for Asia, the Middle East and the Pacific.

In addition, UMT has been actively involved in the Erasmus Mundus programme, particularly through its continuous participation in the Tropimundos programme, which UMT hosts on an annual basis. This long-standing engagement demonstrates UMT’s strong commitment to high-impact international mobility and its ability to sustain collaboration with reputable European consortia.

The Tropimundos programme at UMT is coordinated under the leadership of Associate Professor Dr. Satyam Behara, a researcher from the Institute of Oceanography and Environment (INOS). From 2015 to 2025, a total of 170 international students from 49 countries have participated in the programme at UMT. Through Tropimundos, students gain academic exposure, field-based learning, and cross-cultural experiences in tropical marine and environmental studies, significantly enhancing UMT’s global visibility and international academic ecosystem while contributing to the development of globally competent graduates.

Partnership within ASEAN

As part of its strategic commitment to regional engagement and societal impact, UMT places strong emphasis on collaboration within the ASEAN region. Partnerships with ASEAN universities have supported student mobility, short-term academic programmes, joint courses, and collaborative research that has addressed shared regional challenges.

ASEAN countries have represented UMT’s largest share of international collaborations, accounting for more than 50% of UMT’s total international partnerships. This highlights UMT’s strong regional presence and its strategic positioning as a leading higher education institution within Southeast Asia, particularly in areas related to marine resources, climate change, coastal communities, and sustainable development.

To further strengthen ASEAN and APAC collaborations, UMT has identified 10 active MoUs with institutions across the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region to be strategically mobilised through high-impact activities that contribute directly to institutional Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and enhance UMT’s international visibility. In support of this effort, five academic members have been appointed as Persons-in-Charge (PICs) to spearhead the task of identifying, developing, and advancing new MoUs with leading institutions across the APAC region.

This structured and targeted approach ensures that ASEAN and APAC collaborations are outcome-driven, sustainable, and fully aligned with UMT’s strategic planning framework.

Supporting UMT Strategic Planning and Global Aspirations

Collectively, these top international partnerships with Japan, the United Kingdom, the European Union, and ASEAN have played a significant role in strengthening UMT’s global reputation. Through sustained academic collaboration, high-impact mobility programmes, internationally funded research projects, and active academic diplomacy, UMT has continued to enhance its visibility, credibility, and recognition at the global level. These strategic engagements have positioned UMT as a trusted international partner, reinforced its standing within global academic networks, and supported its aspiration to be a globally recognised university with strong regional leadership and international impact.

By Syarifah Noormaisarah Tuan Besar, International Centre