UMPSA strengthens regional academic collaboration through strategic partnership with Universitas Tanjungpura

PEKAN, 20 June 2026 – A recent visit by a delegation from the Faculty of Teacher Training and Education (FKIP), Universitas Tanjungpura (UNTAN), Indonesia, to the Centre for Modern Languages (CML), Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA) on 28 April 2026 has laid the foundation for a strategic academic partnership encompassing postgraduate education, research, academic mobility and international scholarly engagement.

The delegation comprising Associate Dean I for Academic Affairs and Coordinator of the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Education Programme, Dr. Urai Salam, Coordinator of the Master of Educational Technology Programme, Dr. Venny Karolina and Coordinator of the Bachelor of Education (English Language Education) Programme, Dr. Yanti Sri Rezeki was welcomed by CML UMPSA to explore potential areas of collaboration between the two institutions. 

As part of the programme, Dr. Venny Karolina and Dr. Urai Salam shared their experiences as recipients of grants awarded by the A.S. Hornby Educational Trust, offering practical insights into securing international research funding, developing competitive grant proposals, establishing international research collaborations, and identifying funding opportunities in English language education.
 
 

Following the sharing session, the delegation engaged in a collaborative discussion with Dean of CML, Associate Professor Dr. Zuraina Ali, and the Centre's management team to explore potential areas of cooperation. 

Discussions centred on postgraduate education, research collaboration, mobility programmes, international community engagement and academic quality assurance.

   
One of the key outcomes of the engagement was the discovery of strong alignment between UNTAN’s Master’s Programme in Educational Technology and UMPSA’s Master of Science in Technology-Integrated Learning (MScTILS). 
Academics from both institutions also identified complementary areas of expertise, creating a strong foundation for future collaboration in teaching, research and postgraduate supervision.

One of the earliest achievements of the collaboration is the appointment of eleven UMPSA academics as external examiners for the Research Proposal Seminar of students enrolled in UNTAN’s Master’s Programme in Educational Technology. 

The proposal seminars, currently running now since 20 June to 30 June 2026, involve a comprehensive evaluation process comprising academic supervisors, internal examiners from UNTAN, and external examiners from UMPSA.

 
Proposal Defense Session 20 June 2026

Through this arrangement, UMPSA academics contribute their expertise by providing constructive feedback and scholarly recommendations to enhance the quality of students’ research proposals and academic development. The appointment reflects the confidence placed in UMPSA’s academic capabilities and its commitment to supporting postgraduate education and quality assurance beyond national borders.

Among the UMPSA academics appointed as external examiners are Dr. Ruhil Amal Azmuddin, Associate Professor Dr. Zuraina Ali, Dr. Azwin Arif Abdul Rahim, Dr. Ezihaslinda Ngah, Associate Professor Dr. Hafizoah Kassim, Dr. Wan Jumani Fauzi, Dr. Mohammad Musab Azmat Ali, Dr. Nor Yazi Khamis, Dr. Wan Raihan Wan Shaaidi, Dr. Umi Kalsom Masrom, and Dr. Siti Norzaimalina Abd Majid.

According to Associate Professor Dr Zuraina Ali, the collaboration represents a meaningful step towards strengthening regional academic networks and creating sustainable opportunities for scholarly engagement between Malaysia and Indonesia.

"This partnership demonstrates how academic collaboration can create meaningful opportunities for knowledge exchange, postgraduate development and international engagement. 

“We are pleased to see the collaboration progressing beyond discussions into concrete initiatives that benefit academics and students across institutions," she said.

Beyond the external examiner appointment, both institutions have identified several initiatives to further strengthen the partnership.

 
These include collaborative research projects, academic publication opportunities, Global Classroom initiatives, inbound and outbound mobility programmes, as well as joint academic activities involving staff and students from both institutions.

The collaboration has also expanded UMPSA’s international academic network through UNTAN’s existing partnerships with other higher education institutions in the region. 

Through UNTAN, UMPSA has established connections with Mindanao State University – College of Education, Science and Technology (MSU-CMEST), Philippines, which has agreed to participate in an upcoming Guest Speaker Series involving academics from UNTAN, UMPSA and MSU-CMEST. 

The webinar series will be open to postgraduate students from the participating institutions and serve as a platform for knowledge sharing, scholarly discourse and cross-cultural academic engagement.

 
In addition, MSU-CMEST has expressed its commitment to collaborate in the organisation of the International Conference on Language Learning and Teaching (ICOLLT 5.0) scheduled for 2027, further strengthening opportunities for multilateral academic cooperation among the participating institutions. 

The involvement of regional partners is expected to enhance the conference’s international profile while creating broader opportunities for research collaboration, publication and professional networking.

The partnership also opens avenues for future collaboration in postgraduate supervision, joint research, co-publications, academic mobility and professional development programmes, reinforcing the shared commitment of the institutions towards advancing higher education and research excellence in the region.

Through strategic international partnerships such as this, CML UMPSA continues to contribute to the globalisation of higher education while supporting UMPSA’s aspiration to be a leading technology university with strong international networks, academic excellence and meaningful global impact.

A visit by a delegation from UNTAN, Indonesia, to CML UMPSA has sparked a strategic partnership encompassing postgraduate education, research, academic mobility and scholarly engagement. 

The collaboration has already produced tangible outcomes, including external examiner appointments, regional networking initiatives, and plans for joint programmes involving partner institutions in Southeast Asia.

By: Dr. Ezihaslinda Ngah And Dr. Wan Jumani Fauzi, Centre For Modern Languages (CML)