The UUM International Faculty Exchange Week 2023 (IFEX @UUM 2023), a transformative academic initiative on November 5 and November 9, marked a week of dynamic exchanges, cultural immersion, and lasting collaborations. The closing ceremony, held at the Sri Beringin Restaurant, EDC Hotel, was graced by Professor Dr. Shahimi Mokhtar, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic & International) of Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM).
In his address, Prof. Dr. Shahimi expressed appreciation for the program's success, emphasising its role in bringing together minds from around the globe. Prof. Dr. Shahimi recognised the invaluable contributions of visiting lecturers from partner universities in Indonesia, including;
- Dr. Ir. Shofwatul Uyun, from Universitas Islam Negeri Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta
- Masduki, from Universitas Islam Indonesia
- Safrilsyah, from Universitas Islam Negeri Ar-Raniry
- Miftahul Jannah, from Universitas Islam Negeri Ar-Raniry
- Vera Nova, from Universitas Islam Negeri Ar-Raniry
- Ayu Anastaya Rachman from Universitas Bina Mandiri Gorontalo
A special mention was made for UUM host lecturers from the School of Computing (SOC), the School of Creative Industry Management & Performing Arts (SCIMPA), the School of Applied Psychology, Social Work & Policy (SAPSP), and the School of International Studies (SOIS).
The Deputy Vice-Chancellor recognised the pivotal role of Deans and Deputy Deans in organising IFEX @UUM 2023, praising their dedication, expertise, and support. Their commitment, he noted, had been instrumental in ensuring the smooth execution of the program, enriching the academic experiences of participants and fostering lasting partnerships.
As the program bid farewell, Prof. Dr. Shahimi revisited IFEX's main objectives, from reinforcing UUM's international dimension to promoting professional academic staff development. He expressed optimism that the connections formed during the week would catalyse ongoing collaboration and the exchange of knowledge and cultural experiences.
IFEX @UUM 2023 contributed to UUM's internationalisation efforts by bringing academic staff from partner universities to UUM to be part of our teaching and learning activities. The visiting lecturer will collaborate closely with UUM lecturers and teach at least 6 hours during the 42-hour teaching week at UUM. The goal is to give UUM students exposure to international learning, diverse cultures, and the chance to meet and learn from international educators.
The visiting lecturers also actively engaged with the host school and contributed in various ways, such as supervising final-year student projects and participating in UUM's seminars. Both the UUM lecturer and the visiting lecturer are encouraged to explore other collaborative possibilities, such as co-authoring articles for journals (joint publication) and pursuing international grant opportunities (joint research).
IFEX @UUM is planned to be an annual event for UUM.
Visit http://ciac.uum.edu.my for more information on student and staff exchange @UUM.