UMPSA assumes ACNET-EngTech Rotating Presidency for 2026

PEKAN, 7 August 2026 - Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA) has assumed the Rotating Presidency of ACNET-EngTech for 2026, strengthening its role in advancing regional cooperation in engineering and technology education.

UMPSA was elected to the role during the ACNET-EngTech Working Meeting held on 30 July 2026. The meeting was coordinated by Tianjin University, which serves as the network’s Permanent Secretariat on the Chinese side.
 

The meeting brought together representatives from member institutions to share their proposed programmes, institutional strengths and available resources.

Members also discussed opportunities to develop joint activities and promote closer cooperation within the network.
UMPSA joined ACNET-EngTech as a full member in 2023 and has since steadily expanded its participation through staff development, student mobility and institutional collaboration.

In 2025, UMPSA sent academic staff to attend training programmes at Harbin Institute of Technology and Tianjin University. 

The programmes provided opportunities for professional development, knowledge exchange and closer engagement with academics from ACNET-EngTech member institutions in China.
 
 

 
The university’s participation has also created direct opportunities for its students. In 2026, one UMPSA student received a scholarship to participate in a summer programme offered through the ACNET-EngTech network, providing valuable international academic and cultural exposure.

Vice-Chancellor of UMPSA, Professor Ts. Dr.Yatimah Alias, expressed her appreciation to the member institutions for the confidence placed in UMPSA to lead the network throughout 2026.

“UMPSA looks forward to working closely with Tianjin University, the Permanent Secretariat and all member institutions. 

“Our focus is to create meaningful opportunities for students and academics to learn, collaborate and develop solutions together across institutions and borders,” she said.

During the election session, Professor Ts. Dr. Yatimah outlined UMPSA’s proposed direction for ACNET-EngTech and its priorities for the 2026 presidency.

 
Among the initiatives proposed are trilateral student and staff mobility programmes involving institutions from China, ASEAN and other member countries. 

UMPSA also plans to promote collaborative classrooms that enable students and academics to participate in cross-border teaching and learning.

Other priorities include industry-linked projects, professional training and capacity-building programmes, joint research activities and the development of international grant applications.

According to Professor Ts. Dr. Yatimah, these initiatives will encourage member institutions to pool their expertise and resources in developing programmes with clear academic, professional and industry outcomes.

Director of UMPSA Global, Associate Professor Ts. Dr. Herma Dina Setiabudi, also presented UMPSA’s strategic direction for the Asia-Pacific Advanced TVET Hub.

She highlighted the Hub’s role in connecting universities, industries and strategic partners through academic mobility, collaborative teaching, applied research, professional training and industry-led projects.

Tianjin University is also a member of the Asia-Pacific Advanced TVET Hub. 

Its participation in both platforms provides further opportunities for UMPSA and Tianjin University to coordinate programmes and share expertise in Advanced Technical and Vocational Education and Training (Advanced TVET).

The connection between ACNET-EngTech and the Hub will support wider regional cooperation in developing future-ready talent, strengthening industry participation in education and promoting the exchange of good practices among institutions.

As the 2026 Rotating Presidency, UMPSA will work closely with the Permanent Secretariat and member institutions to coordinate the network’s activities, expand mobility opportunities and develop collaborations that contribute to engineering, technology and industry-linked education across the region.

By: Nur Ezzati Mohd Nasir, Office of The Vice-Chancellor