UMPSA hosts 81st JKTNCRA Meeting and MIEMF Fund Handover Ceremony

PEKAN, 18 August 2025 – Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA) continues to strengthen its role as a leading higher education institution (HEI) when it was honoured to host the 81st Meeting of the Committee of Deputy Vice-Chancellors/Rectors (Academic and International) (JKTNCRA) of Public Universities (PU) (No. 03/2025) held in hybrid format at the Senate Hall, Tun Abdul Razak Chancellery, UMPSA Pekan.

According to UMPSA Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and International Affairs), Professor Dato’ Ir. Ts. Dr Ahmad Ziad Sulaiman, the meeting, which gathered Deputy Vice-Chancellors/Rectors (Academic and International Affairs) from public universities nationwide, aimed to discuss the direction of higher education, student admissions, the internationalisation agenda, as well as the strengthening of strategic collaboration between universities.

“The committee also convened today to deliberate and endorse matters related to academic and international affairs before they are presented to the Committee of Vice-Chancellors/Rectors of Public Universities for further approval,” he said.

The meeting was chaired by Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and International Affairs), Professor Dato’ Gs. Dr Narimah Samat, in her capacity as Chairperson of JKTNCRA.

Also present were representatives from the Department of Higher Education (JPT) led by Director of the Academic Excellence Division, Associate Professor Dr Azidah Abu Ziden; Deputy Director-General of Higher Education (Academic and Research), Professor Dr Zainal Amin Ayub; Director of the Internationalisation of Higher Education Division, Rosemanizam Mohammed Nalif; Deputy Chief Executive Officer (Quality Assurance), Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA), Professor Ts. Dr M. Iqbal Saripan; and representatives from the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) who attended virtually, namely Deputy Undersecretary of the Policy and Research Division, Kamaliah Basir, and Senior Principal Assistant Secretary of the Policy and Research Division, Azian Mohmad Azman.

This meeting also announced the reappointment of USM Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and International Affairs), Professor Dato’ Gs. Dr Narimah Samat as Chairperson of JKTNCRA for a two-year term from 1 December 2025 to 30 November 2027.

Meanwhile, UMPSA Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and International Affairs), Professor Dato’ Ir. Ts. Dr Ahmad Ziad Sulaiman, was appointed as Deputy Chairperson of JKTNCRA for a two-year term from 1 December 2025 to 30 November 2027.

At the same time, the Malaysia International Enrichment Matching Fund (MIEMF) Handover Ceremony was also held, officiated by JPT Deputy Director-General of Higher Education (Academic and Research), Professor Dr Zainal Amin Ayub.

According to Professor Dr Zainal Amin, MIEMF is an important platform to strengthen efforts towards the internationalisation of national higher education through high-impact projects.

“The Malaysia International Enrichment Matching Fund (MIEMF) is an effort to enhance international collaboration programmes through the utilisation of signed agreements to provide direct impact to students, lecturers, and institutions as a whole.

“This initiative also encompasses the increase of public universities’ global engagement through the implementation of joint projects, academic mobility, joint research, as well as the organisation of programmes based on existing strategic collaborations.

“This programme not only opens opportunities for public universities to expand their global networks but also acts as a catalyst for talent development and innovation at the international level,” he said.

UMPSA was also listed as one of the recipients after successfully securing approval for one project under the MIEMF fund.

By: Naqiah Puaad, Centre for Corporate Communications

Translation by: Dr Rozaimi Abu Samah, UMPSA Press