FISH UNJ and UiTM Sign MoA and Launch Six International Collaborative Initiatives

The UiTM delegation was led by Prof. Dr. Abd Rasid Abd Rahman, Dean of the Faculty of Communication and Media Studies, accompanied by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tengku Elena Tengku Mahamad, Deputy Dean of Research and Industrial Linkage, and Dr. Wan Norbani Wan Noordin, Head of the Center of Strategic Communication. Representing FISH UNJ were Firdaus Wajdi, M.A., Ph.D., Dean of FISH UNJ, Dr. Aris Munandar, Vice Dean for Finance and Resources, Dr. E. Nugrahaeni P., Vice Dean for Student Affairs, Alumni, and Partnerships, along with faculty members and program coordinators.

The six Implementation Arrangements include one international community engagement program with the Mat Peci Community, three international collaborative research projects, the appointment of academic staff as journal editors, and the organization of an international guest lecture. Among the three collaborative research initiatives, two have already resulted in publications indexed by Scopus, further strengthening the research productivity, publication quality, and international academic recognition of scholars from both institutions.

The community engagement initiative with the Mat Peci Community represents one of the most meaningful outcomes of the partnership. The program is designed to ensure that academic collaboration extends beyond university walls and translates into tangible benefits for society. Meanwhile, the joint research and publication initiatives will foster the exchange of scholarly perspectives between Indonesian and Malaysian academics in the fields of communication, media, social sciences, law, and community development.

Dean of FISH UNJ, Firdaus Wajdi, M.A., Ph.D., emphasized that international partnerships should be measured by their real contributions rather than administrative formalities. “This is exactly what we have envisioned—that collaboration should not remain merely an administrative document on paper, but should create meaningful impact for society, both through direct community engagement and through contributions to international scholarly forums,” he stated.

According to him, the simultaneous signing of the six Implementation Arrangements alongside the MoA demonstrates that both institutions have moved beyond symbolic cooperation toward a clearly defined implementation roadmap. Each initiative is expected to be followed up by academic departments and research teams through measurable outputs, timelines, and continuous evaluation.

Prof. Dr. Abd Rasid Abd Rahman also expressed UiTM's confidence in the long-term partnership. He described the MoA signing as the beginning of broader and more impactful collaborations. “I strongly believe that this collaboration will not end today or within this room. Instead, today's signing marks the beginning of even more impactful partnerships. We are also very open to developing student mobility and student exchange programs, whether between academic programs or within specific courses,” he remarked.

Student mobility has consequently become one of the key priorities for future collaboration. Planned initiatives include student exchanges, collaborative learning activities, international classes, joint lectures, and student participation in cross-border research and community engagement projects. These programs are expected not only to enhance institutional and academic recognition but also to provide students with valuable international learning experiences.