UUM Strengthens International Collaboration through LOI Signing with Five Indonesian Universities under APTISI West Sumatra
PADANG, 8 September 2025: Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) has signed Letters of Intent (LOI) with five private higher education institutions in West Sumatra, Indonesia, aimed at strengthening its international cooperation network under the auspices of the Indonesian Private Higher Education Management Association (APTISI).
The universities are Universitas Bung Hatta, Universitas Prima Nusantara, Universitas Baiturrahmah, Universitas Putra Indonesia and Universitas PGRI West Sumatra.
Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Dato’ Dr Mohd Foad Sakdan, said that the consortium of universities under APTISI West Sumatra will collaborate with UUM across various academic disciplines to foster collective international accomplishments.
He said that this collaboration represents a strategic initiative, underscoring a mutual commitment to fostering advancements in research, facilitating exchanges between students and lecturers, engaging in community service, and exploring opportunities for private higher education lecturers to pursue their postgraduate studies at UUM, along with other cooperative efforts that will be advantageous to both parties.
“We are confident that the synergy between UUM and universities under APTISI will generate significant benefits, not only for both parties, but also for the broader community,” he said in his address at the Letter of Intent (LOI) Signing Ceremony held at Universitas Bung Hatta, Padang, Indonesia.
His remarks were delivered on his behalf by the Dean of the School of Business Management (SBM), Assoc. Prof. Dr Shuhymee Ahmad.
Prof. Dato’ Dr Mohd. Foad also expressed his hope that the collaboration will continue to grow, strengthen mutual ties, and yield long-term positive outcomes.
“I fervently hope that the initiatives we begin today will pave the way for fruitful and enduring collaboration,” he said.
Prof. Dato’ Dr Mohd Foad Sakdan further affirmed UUM’s commitment to advancing the Internationalisation Policy of the Ministry of Higher Education (MoHE), which aspires to position Malaysia as a globally recognised higher education hub.
According to him, in line with the objectives of the Malaysian Education Blueprint 2023-2030 (Higher Education), UUM aims to actively attract international students and enhance its role as a regional centre of excellence.
He further added that the presence of international students not only enhances the learning environment but also reflects global confidence in Malaysia’s higher education system.
“To realise this aspiration, UUM has established a long-standing collaboration with APTISI Pusat to create strategic partnerships in various forms, including appointing APTISI as a student recruitment agent for masters and doctoral programmes under their management.
“APTISI also has formalised its partnership with UUM through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that has been in effect for an extended period. Most recently, on 25 June, UUM signed LOI with 10 higher education institutions in collaboration with APTISI North Sumatra,” he said.
During the visit, the UUM delegation engaged in discussions and promotional activities with various universities in Padang, including Universitas Negeri Padang, focusing on academic programmes at both the undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
Also present were the Deputy Dean (Academic and International), School of Education, Assoc. Prof. Dr Mua’azam Mohamad; Deputy Dean (Academic and International), School of Business Management, Prof. Dr Hasnizam Shaari and Chairman of Off-Campus/Offshore Postgraduate Programmes, School of Education, Dr Muhd Zulhilmi Haron.
