Reigniting the common animal spirit through global academic adventure: Pahang and Chiang Rai

Little do we know about Pahang and Thailand share a common animal representative: the elephant. In the most visited state on the East Coast of Malaysia, Tok Gajah rules the spirit, while Thailand is nicknamed the ‘Land of the White Elephants’ for its cultural significance. On 13th May 2026, these two regions marked and heightened their spirit animal through a significant global classroom initiative between the Centre for Modern Languages, UMPSA and Mae Fah Luang University. The latter educational institution is situated in Chiang Rai province, the northernmost province of Thailand, and was established to memorialise the generous donations of the King's Mother, Her Royal Highness Princess Srinagarindra, affectionately called "Mae Fah Luang." by her subjects 

Commitment to Global Learning

The Global Classroom initiative reflects UMPSA’s ongoing commitment to providing students with cross-cultural learning experiences and exposure to international educators. The 2,400 kilometers of land distance between the UMPSA and Mae Fah Luang University proved to be no barrier in exposing the ULE1352 (Essential English) students to an online global classroom setting. By bringing together lecturers from Malaysia and Thailand, the programme fostered global perspectives while maintaining high academic standards. Under the administration of the Flexible Learning and Micro-Credential Centre (FLEXMC), an enriching Global Classroom session featuring a distinguished guest lecturer, Mr Wai Yan Htut, a lecturer from the School of Liberal Arts at Mae Fah Luang University, was held. 

International Collaboration in the Classroom

The Global Classroom initiative continues to strengthen UMPSA’s international academic network. This session proudly welcomed the speaker to share his expertise on opinion essay writing, guiding students on how to transform their ideas into persuasive, well-structured arguments. The session was also jointly facilitated by a dedicated team of UMPSA course instructors; namely the language teachers from the English Language Department. Together, they ensured an interactive and engaging virtual learning environment for all participating students.

Enhancing Essential Writing Skill for TVET Learners

From another perspective, TVET learners ought to develop writing abilities to improve their academic writing at a tertiary level. A lack of interest in improving academic writing skills can prevent students from acquiring the necessary competencies. Hence, this academic session aimed to instill the learning drive in these students so that they could excel in this specific language competency, namely writing.

Seventy-two Bachelor of Technology students from both campuses joined the academic discourse. The session, “From Ideas to Impact - Crafting Effective Opinion Essay” was designed to help students master the art of writing effective opinion essays, a critical and prominent skill for academic success and professional communication. Participants learned how to develop clear thesis statements, organise supporting evidence, and craft compelling conclusions. During the session, the speaker also included Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)-based essay topics as examples of learning materials. This approach in the essay writing lesson is extremely important for TVET students since it ties their technical knowledge to real-world global concerns. Engaging with themes such as sustainable industry practices, climate action, and responsible resource management helps students develop critical thinking skills that will be useful in their future jobs. This method also encourages them to become socially conscious professionals who understand how their work affects the environment and society. Furthermore, SDG-focused essays help TVET students improve their communication skills while encouraging innovation by prompting them to present practical, solution-oriented ideas that are consistent with sustainable development.

During the session, students highlighted the value of collaborative learning. Nurul Syuhada binti Ahmad Zuhairi, a student from Section 3P, noted that the interactive nature of the discussion provided a vital platform for sharing ideas, which significantly deepened her understanding of the subject matter. Meanwhile, Muhammad Hazim bin Ramli from Section 06P expressed a keen interest in international perspectives. He suggested that integrating professional educators from abroad could further enrich the curriculum, offering students a broader cultural lens and a more comprehensive global knowledge base. Overall, the participating students truly enjoyed the session with Mr Wai Yan Htut as they were given the grand opportunity and ample time to respond to the assigned learning tasks.  The learning satisfaction was also evident when these students actively engaged themselves in answering questions and giving virtual feedback.

Finally, this global classroom collaboration between UMPSA and Mae Fah Luang University exemplifies the potential of cross-border academic partnership. What began as a shared symbol of the elephant has grown into a valuable educational bridge between Pahang and Chiang Rai. Mr Wai Yan Htut's skill and the passion of the English Language instructors provided UMPSA students with more than simply essay-writing techniques; they also learned how structured arguments may enhance their voices. The students' enthusiasm demonstrated a genuine desire for international perspectives that improve both curriculum and character. This initiative also illustrates how collaboration can revitalise an academic vision and develop TVET learners who are not only technically adept but also globally aware, socially conscientious, and prepared to provide sustainable solutions.

By: Nur Syafawati Sabuan
Senior Language Teacher 
Centre for Modern Languages (CML)
Universti Malaysia Pahanag Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA)
E-mail:  nursya@umpsa.edu.my

 
By: Hajah Noor Azlinda Zainal Abidin
Senior Language Teacher 
Centre for Modern Languages (CML)
Universti Malaysia Pahanag Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA)
E-mail:  azlinda@umpsa.edu.my

By: Siti Ainun Jariyah Hassan
Senior Language Teacher 
Centre for Modern Languages (CML)
Universti Malaysia Pahanag Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA)
E-mail:  ainun@umpsa.edu.my

By: Khairul Amri Abdul Aziz
Language Teacher 
Centre for Modern Languages (CML)
Universti Malaysia Pahanag Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA)
E-mail:  amri@umpsa.edu.my

By: Abdul Jalil Abdul Rahim
Language Teacher
Centre for Modern Languages (CML)
Universti Malaysia Pahanag Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA)
E-mail: abdjalil@umpsa.edu.my