KUALA LUMPUR, March 27 – Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) – Malaysia-Japan International Institute of Technology (MJIIT)** recently held the 2nd Joint Coordinating Committee (JCC) Meeting to enhance the Malaysia-Japan Linkage (MJL) Office. The meeting was chaired by Prof. Dr. Mohd Shafry Mohd Rahim, Vice Chancellor of UTM, with representatives from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Headquarters in Tokyo participating virtually. Notable attendees included Assoc. Prof. Ir. Dr. Nurulakmar Abu Husain, Dean of MJIIT; Prof. Dr. Watanabe Koichiro, Senior Advisor from JICA; Iwasaki Akihiro, Director of the Technical and Higher Education Team; Sasagawa Chiaki, Deputy Assistant Director; as well as members from the JICA Malaysia Office and senior officials from UTM.
The event began with opening remarks emphasizing the longstanding collaboration between UTM and JICA, mainly through the MJL Office project. Launched on July 1, 2023, this project aims to establish MJIIT as a premier Japanese Industrial and Education Hub within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), strengthening ties with Japanese universities and industries. Since the signing of the Record of Discussions on April 10, 2023, MJL has played a crucial role in fostering academic and industrial collaborations.
The annual JCC meetings serve as a platform to review the project’s progress, tackle key challenges, and strategize future initiatives. The first JCC meeting, chaired by former UTM Vice Chancellor Prof. Datuk Ir. Ts. Dr. Ahmad Fauzi Ismail was held on January 30, 2024. This year’s meeting focused on assessing the project’s progress and achievements in 2024, ensuring its objectives are met by 2028. UTM reaffirmed its strong commitment to the MJL project, recognizing it as a key agenda item under the university’s Key High Impact Results (KeyHIR) framework, led by the Deputy Vice Chancellor for Academic and International Affairs.
Three key presentations were delivered during the meeting. The first, titled “MJIIT Overview and MJL Project Outputs,” was presented by Associate Prof. Ir. Dr. Nurulakmar Abu Husain. It highlighted the current status of MJIIT and focused on three main outputs of the MJL project: establishing MJL as an official and sustainable unit at MJIIT, expanding collaboration with Japanese industries, and strengthening academic and research partnerships with Japanese universities.
The second presentation, “Progress of Indicators and Areas for Improvement,” was given by Isamu Hamada, a JICA Advisor at MJIIT. This session focused on the measurable progress of the project and identified key areas that require further enhancement. The final presentation, “Future Activities and 2024 Timeline,” was delivered by Dr. Shahira Liza Kamis, MJL Manager. She outlined the upcoming initiatives, strategic plans, and the project timeline for 2024.
MJL has introduced several initiatives to enhance collaboration with the Japanese University Consortium (JUC) and industry stakeholders. Notably, UTM has identified 20 high-impact projects aimed at exploring academic and research collaborations between industries, JUC, ASEAN institutions, and Malaysian universities. Two major upcoming initiatives were highlighted: the Malaysia-Japan Industrial & Innovation Expo 2025 and the MJL-Japanese Chamber of Trade and Industry Malaysia Research Competition (JACTIM) Research Competition scheduled for October 14, 2025. This competition promotes joint research efforts with industries within and beyond Malaysia.
In conclusion, the continued partnership between UTM, Japanese universities, and industry stakeholders is crucial for making MJIIT a leading hub for Japanese industrial and educational linkages in ASEAN. With the momentum gained, UTM looks forward to further strengthening bilateral cooperation, fostering innovation, and advancing academic excellence in collaboration with its esteemed Japanese partners.
