UUM and Universitas Brawijaya forge dynamic global partnership through innovative academic exchange
News and photos Mohd Azri Abdul Aziz
SINTOK, 28 January 2026: Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) continues to expand its global footprint through a promising new academic collaboration with Universitas Brawijaya (UB), Indonesia. A partnership meeting held on 27 January 2026 between UUM’s Centre for International Affairs and Cooperation (CIAC), the School of Computing (SOC), and UB’s Faculty of Computing marked a significant milestone in strengthening international cooperation in education and research.
Conducted virtually via Google Meet, the strategic discussion laid a strong foundation for enhanced student mobility, academic exchange, and high-impact research collaboration, reflecting the shared commitment of both institutions to internationalisation, innovation, and academic excellence.
A key highlight of the meeting was UB’s proposed Summer Programme 2026, an innovative 10-week hybrid programme scheduled from September to November 2026. The programme integrates online learning through recorded lectures with a one-week immersive on-site experience in Indonesia. Offering approximately 170 learning hours (equivalent to 10 ECTS credits), the programme delivers substantial academic value while providing meaningful global exposure.
To encourage participation, UB extends generous subsidies covering local transportation, accommodation, and most meals during the on-site component. Upon completion, participants will receive an official academic transcript and a certificate of participation, with students required to bear the cost of international airfare and dinner expenses. The programme has demonstrated strong demand, with last year’s edition attracting approximately 300 online participants, of whom 150 joined the on-site experience.
Beyond short-term initiatives, the discussions also explored opportunities for full-semester student exchanges in Computer Science and IT-related fields, including the potential for mutual tuition fee waivers, subject to institutional agreements. This development opens pathways for deeper academic immersion and sustained cross-border learning for students from both universities.
The collaboration further extends into high-level research and academic leadership through UB’s Adjunct and Visiting Professor Programmes. These initiatives invite UUM faculty members with a minimum H-index of 8 to contribute through online lectures, joint research activities, and scholarly collaboration. The programmes offer attractive financial incentives, ranging from IDR25 million to IDR90 million for co-publications in Q1 to Q4 indexed journals, strengthening research impact, academic visibility, and international scholarly presence. Applications for these prestigious roles are expected to open in February 2026.
Looking ahead, both institutions agreed to maintain active communication channels and engage in regular information exchange on academic programmes and collaborative opportunities, including at the faculty level. Associate Professor Wan Hussain Wan Ishak and his team from UUM’s School of Computing will further explore the nomination of UUM students for the upcoming Summer Programme 2026.
CIAC remains steadfast in its commitment to fostering meaningful, sustainable, and high-impact international partnerships that advance UUM’s internationalisation agenda. Through collaborations such as this, UUM continues to create valuable global opportunities for students, empower academic staff, and strengthen its position as a dynamic and competitive player on the international higher education stage.
