Photos by Mohd Iqbal Roslan
SINTOK, 16 dECEMBER 2025: The Centre for International Affairs and Cooperation (CIAC), Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM), recently hosted a delegation from Prince of Songkla University (PSU), Thailand.
The delegation was led by Asst. Prof. Dr Parichart Maneemai, Dean of the Faculty of Commerce and Management, PSU Trang Campus, and the visit underscored the growing academic ties between the two institutions.
The delegation was warmly received by Assoc. Prof. Dr Arpah Abu Bakar, Director of CIAC, UUM, who extended a cordial welcome and expressed UUM’s pleasure in hosting PSU students under its student mobility and internship programme.
She noted that such exchanges reflect the shared commitment of both universities to nurturing globally minded graduates.
In her remarks, she highlighted that internships at CIAC offer PSU students valuable exposure to UUM’s internationalisation ecosystem. Through hands-on involvement in student mobility coordination, international partnership management, and intercultural engagement, students are able to develop professional acumen, effective communication skills, and cross-cultural competencies within a dynamic global academic environment.
Assoc. Prof. Dr Arpah Abu Bakar further emphasised that UUM and PSU have enjoyed an active and meaningful collaboration over the years, particularly with PSU Trang Campus, which has consistently participated in various joint initiatives.
These collaborations are most evident with the School of Economics, Finance and Banking (SEFB), reflecting a strong, enduring, and mutually beneficial academic partnership.
Echoing this sentiment, Asst. Prof. Dr Parichart Maneemai shared that PSU Trang Campus has previously undertaken several collaborative activities with SEFB and observed that both institutions see significant potential for further cooperation.
She added that a number of promising areas could be explored in future engagements, signalling PSU’s strong interest in strengthening its partnership with UUM.
The visit began with a courtesy meeting with the CIAC team, followed by a Student Internship Orientation Session for two PSU students. The session provided a comprehensive overview of the internship programme, covering work assignments, administrative arrangements, and supervision and communication mechanisms, to ensure a smooth, structured, and enriching internship experience at UUM.
The PSU delegation concluded the visit in the afternoon with a separate discussion with the SEFB team before departing for PSU Trang Campus.
Overall, the visit marked a significant milestone in further strengthening the close relationship between UUM and PSU, reaffirming a shared vision for international collaboration, student development, and sustained institutional growth. – Norliza Katuk
