UMPSA strengthens ties with BJTU set to offer Dual Master’s and Doctor of Philosophy programmes

BEIJING, 12 November 2025 – Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA) is considering implementing Dual Master’s and Doctor of Philosophy Programmes following the proposal of the President of Beijing Jiaotong University (BJTU), Yu Zujun, as a result of the success of the UMPSA-BJTU Dual Degree Programme, which has produced a total of 45 pioneering graduates for this programme.

According to the Vice-Chancellor of UMPSA, Professor Dr Yatimah Alias, as a university that also focuses on railway technology engineering, UMPSA is pleased to expand the existing collaboration with BJTU in railway innovation and transportation engineering.

“This success is a significant step towards producing a skilled workforce to support the development of the rail sector in Malaysia, including the mega project East Coast Rail Link (ECRL), which is expected to operate in 2026.

“This dual degree programme marks a historic milestone between UMPSA and BJTU in strengthening strategic collaborative relations and creating wider opportunities in research and academic development for both universities.

“In addition, the growth of the manufacturing and industrial sectors in Malaysia currently requires more experts and a skilled workforce in various technological fields,” she said in conjunction with the Official Working Visit to China, which begins today.

Also present was the Director of the Confucius Institute UMPSA, Associate Professor Ts. Dr Lee Khai Loon.
This afternoon, Professor Dr Yatimah paid a courtesy visit to the President of BJTU, Yu Zujun.

Besides the President, her arrival and that of the UMPSA delegation were welcomed by the Vice President of BJTU, Gao Liang, and the deans of the BJTU faculties.

The relationship between UMPSA and BJTU was established in 2018 through a memorandum of understanding (MoU), and continued through the dual degree programme in 2021, which aimed to produce globally minded engineers, rooted in culture, and ready to face the future, especially in railway engineering.

Today, both parties are very proud of the achievement of the first cohort of graduates of the UMPSA-BJTU Dual Degree Programme.

She added that this success not only marks the completion of a programme but the beginning of many more success stories and inspirations.

“In addition, UMPSA agreed to expand the existing collaboration through a staff attachment programme.

“UMPSA plans to send staff to attend short courses in the fields of artificial intelligence (AI), smart engineering, and railway technology.

“I also invite BJTU to become UMPSA’s international strategic partner under the ASEAN Advanced TVET Hub initiative through collaboration in research and innovation for sustainable and resilient transportation systems,” she said.

She also expressed appreciation for the support of the Public Service Department (JPA) and the Ambassador of China to Malaysia, as well as the collaborative efforts with BJTU.

To date, UMPSA is the only public university (UA) that has implemented 11 dual degree programmes with strategic partners Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences (HKA) and Technische Hochschule Mannheim (THM), Germany; BJTU and Tianjin University, China; Kazakh National Agrarian Research University (KazNARU), Kazakhstan; and with Hanyang University Erica Campus, South Korea.

By: Mimi Rabita Abd Wahit, Centre for Corporate Communications
Translation by: Dr. Rozaimi Abu Samah, UMPSA Press