Page 76 - VC Message

Leading with Purpose
Messages of the Vice Chancellor MESSAGES OF THE VICE CHANCELLOR

33. This forward-looking collaboration reflects the enduring strategic value of Japan
to Malaysia and ASEAN, especially in areas such as green technology, high-value
manufacturing, food and energy security, and the fourth industrial revolution. As
Malaysia exercises its role as ASEAN Chair, and Japan reasserts its economic and
technological leadership in the region, this university-to-university partnership
represents a timely and strategic convergence of shared goals.
34. The collaboration will involve joint research in strategic science and technology
sectors, mobility and exchange of academic talents, student and researcher
engagement, co-development of innovation platforms, and joint contributions to
regional policy dialogues in higher education and industrial transformation.
35. It aims to mobilise the respective strengths of both institutions: the University of
Tokyo’s cutting-edge research in health and medicine, robotics and engineering,
AI, semiconductor technology, and clean energy; and UM’s growing leadership
in Southeast Asia’s digital transformation, sustainable development, and regional
human capital empowerment.
36. As ASEAN deepens its economic integration and strategic resilience, UM’s
growing engagement with Japan’s academic and innovation ecosystem signifies
a broader shift in aligning higher education with national and regional imperatives.
The University of Tokyo’s partnership with UM is now poised to serve as a
cornerstone model of cross-regional cooperation, connecting the dots between
innovation, economic development, and shared aspirations.
37. This collaboration will directly benefit Malaysia in its quest to future-proof its
economy. The joint initiatives with the University of Tokyo will reinforce UM’s
position as a hub for research excellence and innovation in the Global South.
38. This new chapter also enhances UM’s role in driving ASEAN-wide educational and
68 strategic partnerships. With Japan becoming an increasingly crucial partner to
ASEAN’s economic and security architecture, this university-to-university alliance
symbolizes the broader re-alignment of Asia’s leading institutions.
39. As I have addressed before this, the strategic importance of the spirit of oneness
in UM remains paramount, PPUM remains at the core of this front, and there will
be more talent inclusion and talent attraction capacities, with new vacancies that
will be filled with the best talents. To foster the great spirit of oneness, the use of
common identity/staff card will be materialised soon, forging the necessity of the
oneness of identity.
40. We have also just witnessed the conclusion of the UM-WoW for all of our Diploma
and Asasi students, now with more than 3000 students. This remains another feat
that the whole campus should be proud of, with the tireless efforts by all to ensure
a great welcoming experience to our students.
41. For our China strategic presence, we are proud to see that we have had our first
batch of graduation for our foundation students at the Xian campus, with a total of
109 students having graduated. This will be followed by the upcoming graduation
for our inaugural batch of students undertaking three programmes in Yunnan,
which are chemical engineering, material science and Artificial Intelligence.
42. In the ongoing quest to ensure quality study and living experience on campus,
we are now pushing for the accommodation capacity for 40,000 students, where
UKAS has approved this in principle and is now awaiting Cabinet approval this
coming August.
43. In our ongoing visionary foresight to advance our health ecosystem of expertise
and benefits, we are also going to establish a new second private hospital, our
second UMSC of sorts, by next year. This will consist of a 250-bed quaternary
hospital, which will be another symbol of immense pride to the university and the
nation, and a landmark of distinctive quaternary care with our very own expertise
and brand of excellence.