16 December 2021

Insights on the importance of university associations in internationalization shared at UKM Global Webinar Series #4

By
AUN Writer Team

By contributor from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM)

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia recently organized the UKM Global Webinar Series titled The Importance of Associations in the Internationalization Strategies of Universities.  The program was supported by Toshiba International Foundation. The webinar aims at sharing insights of Malaysian and Japanese HEIs on their active participation in international associations. International Associations have played such an important role in bringing universities from across the world together. Universities become members of associations with the aim to improve networking and establish stronger partnerships with other member universities. Many universities have benefitted through the multilateral nature of these associations that allows universities to have access to other universities through these networks. Among established international associations within the region include ASEAN Universities Network (AUN) which also includes an AUN+3 component, University Mobility of Asia Pacific (UMAP), The Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU) and etc. The basis of many international associations is towards building bridges between universities, addressing core issues affecting universities across the world and providing a platform for universities to discuss pertaining matters. This session will showcase the sharing of the experiences of universities in Malaysia and Japan on their participation with international associations and how this form of partnership has brought their internationalization efforts to greater heights. It also aims at exploring how and what kind of support associations provide during the pandemic period and dealing with a period of uncertainty.

The objective of the event is for participants to gain insights of the experience of HEIs from Malaysia and Japan being a member of international associations and to understand the benefits of being a part of an international associations.

The moderator and panelist for the event are as follows:

  • Panelist 1: Professor Dr. Yong Zulina Zubairi, Associate Vice-Chancellor (Global Engagement), Universiti Malaya, Malaysia
  • Panelist 2: Associate Professor Dr. Takao Inamori, Institute of Global Human Resource Development, Okayama University, Japan
  • Panelist 3: Professor Dr. Nor Haniza Sarmin, Associate Director (Global Strategy and Engagement), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Malaysia 
  • Panelist 4: Professor Yuko Kobayakawa, Associate Professor and Deputy Director of the Center for Global Education and Exchange, Toyo University, Japan
  • Moderator: Dr. Fernando Palacio, Former PS Senior Lecturer, International Strategy Office, Kyoto University, Japan

The event gathered over 234 online participants via zoom coming from 13 different countries. The event can be viewed at the following link: https://bit.ly/UKMTIFO4