By Roslizawati Ab Lah, Faculty of Fisheries and Aquaculture Sciences (FSPA)

Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) further strengthened its international collaboration when a professor from the National Taiwan Ocean University (NTOU) recently visited the Faculty of Fisheries and Aquaculture Sciences (FSPA).

Professor Dr. Chia-Hui Wang came to UMT under the FSPA Visiting Professor Programme to strengthen academic collaboration, promote knowledge exchange, and explore future research partnerships between the two institutions.

The Visiting Professor Programme reflects UMT’s continued commitment to internationalisation and academic excellence by fostering strategic partnerships with leading universities worldwide. Such initiatives provide valuable exposure for researchers and students while enhancing UMT’s global visibility in marine science, fisheries, and aquaculture research.

The collaboration between UMT and NTOU has been built over many years through continuous academic engagement and mutual commitment to excellence in marine and fisheries sciences. Among those who have played a significant role in strengthening this partnership is Associate Professor Dr. Seah Ying Giat, whose active involvement has contributed substantially to research collaboration, academic networking, and institutional cooperation between the two universities. The collaboration has also contributed to the development of UMT’s academic talent, with Dr. Muhammad Naimullah bin Muhammad Ikhwanuddin, a lecturer from the Faculty of Fisheries and Aquaculture Sciences, having successfully completed his Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) at NTOU. These achievements demonstrate the strong and sustainable relationship between both institutions while providing a solid foundation for expanding future collaborations in research, postgraduate education, academic mobility, and innovation.

Professor Wang met with Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation) Professor Dr. Muhammad Ikhwanuddin Abdullah to discuss potential collaborations in marine science, fisheries, aquaculture, postgraduate education, and international research initiatives. Both parties agreed to strengthen their long-standing partnership through collaborative research, academic exchanges, and innovation.

Professor Wang also participated in a series of academic engagements with FSPA lecturers. Discussions focused on curriculum enhancement, postgraduate supervision, research collaboration, and opportunities for staff and student mobility. 

She delivered a public lecture entitled “Spawning Grounds, Spatial Distribution, and ENSO-Related Early Life History Variation of Three Mullet Species in Taiwan,” held on 4 June at FSPA, and attended by postgraduate students, researchers, and academic staff from various faculties across UMT.

During the lecture, Professor Wang presented her latest findings on the spawning ecology, spatial distribution, and recruitment patterns of three mullet species in Taiwan. She also highlighted the influence of the El-Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) on the early life stages of these species and discussed its implications for fisheries management and marine ecosystem sustainability. The session stimulated active discussions among participants and provided valuable insights into contemporary fisheries research and climate-related challenges affecting marine resources.

The academic interactions created new opportunities for collaborative research projects, postgraduate supervision, scientific publications, staff and student exchange programmes, and future international grant applications.