News and photos Mohd Azri Abdul Aziz
SINTOK, 10 February 2026: Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) initiated a bilateral online discussion with the Embassy of Ecuador to Indonesia as part of its efforts to expand international academic collaboration into the Latin American region.
The meeting was chaired by Prof. Dr. Mohd Azizuddin Mohd Sani, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and International), together with Mr. Pablo A. Bonifaz Arboleda, Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Ecuador.
The engagement marked the first collaboration between the Embassy of Ecuador and a Malaysian university, with the objective of exploring potential academic partnerships between the two countries.
During the discussion, Mr. Pablo A. Bonifaz Arboleda conveyed the Embassy’s interest in facilitating connections between UUM and universities in Ecuador, particularly in the areas of student mobility, academic exchange, and intercultural engagement. He also introduced the Global Commun initiative and noted the relevance of Southeast Asian exposure for Ecuadorian students.
“This is an opportunity for young Ecuadorian students to pursue their professional goals while gaining exposure to a different culture, which is an essential component of the university experience, and to represent Ecuador abroad,” he said.
Prof. Dr. Mohd Azizuddin expressed UUM’s openness to cross-continental collaboration with higher education institutions in Latin America. He noted UUM’s global standing and its established strengths in social sciences and business management, supported by international accreditations including AACSB.
Both parties discussed possible frameworks for collaboration, including academic staff mobility and joint research initiatives. Among the proposals was an invitation extended by Prof. Dr. Mohd Azizuddin to Ecuadorian academics to participate in the 2026 International Faculty Exchange Week (IFEX @ UUM), a programme under which UUM would provide local hospitality for visiting scholars. The discussion also included the potential for joint research projects through matching research grants.
Mr. Pablo A. Bonifaz Arboleda highlighted Ecuador’s suitability as a study destination for Malaysian students, citing the use of the US Dollar as the national currency and a flexible visa policy that allows conversion to student visas. Both parties agreed on the importance of identifying English-medium programmes in Ecuador to support future academic mobility.
The meeting concluded with a mutual commitment to further develop the proposed areas of cooperation. Prof. Dr. Mohd Azizuddin also extended an invitation to the Ambassador of Ecuador to visit UUM, with the aim of strengthening academic engagement and fostering closer educational and cultural ties between the two nations.
Also present was Mr. Mohd Azri Abdul Aziz, Assistant Director representing the Centre for International Affairs and Cooperation (CIAC).
