UMPSA Strengthens Strategic Collaboration with SAIT Canada in Advanced TVET and Industry-Driven Education
UMPSA and Canada Strengthen Strategic Collaboration in TVET, Clean Technologies and High-Impact Research
GAMBANG, 28 July 2026 – Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA) continues to strengthen its position as a globally oriented technology university through the exploration of strategic collaborations with Canadian higher education institutions, research organisations and industry partners in the areas of technology, research, academic mobility and talent development.
The official visit by the delegation from the High Commission of Canada in Malaysia to UMPSA served as an important platform to expand bilateral collaboration, particularly in higher education, innovation, technology development and industry engagement.
The delegation, led by Senior Trade Commissioner of the High Commission of Canada in Malaysia, Eric Pelletier, representing His Excellency the High Commissioner of Canada to Malaysia, was welcomed by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Student Affairs and Alumni), who is carrying out the functions of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation), Professor Ts. Dr. Mohd Rusllim Mohamed, together with UMPSA’s senior management team.
The visit commenced with a formal engagement session focusing on potential strategic collaborations between UMPSA and Canada in higher education, research, innovation, talent development and industry networking. Key areas discussed included expanding participation in the Canada-ASEAN Scholarships and Educational Exchanges for Development (SEED) Programme and the Mitacs Globalink Research Award (MGRA), implementation of short-term attachment programmes involving staff and students, collaborative research initiatives and opportunities for joint grant applications in the areas of Clean Technologies and Energy.
The discussion also emphasised strengthening university-industry partnerships to support innovation, technology transfer, the development of highly skilled talent and sustainable economic growth.
The delegation also engaged with eight UMPSA academic staff members who are Canadian university alumni. The engagement provided an opportunity to share experiences on the Canadian higher education ecosystem, international research networks and potential opportunities to further strengthen academic and research collaborations between UMPSA and Canadian institutions.
As part of the visit, the delegation was also brought to the Innovation and Research Showcase, which highlighted UMPSA’s research expertise and innovations aligned with global technology priorities.
Among the innovations showcased were AI-powered data analytics, sensor technologies and Geographic Information System (GIS) solutions for environmental management and disaster risk management developed by the Centre for Climate Transition & Disaster Risk. The delegation was also introduced to research in advanced mobility and aerospace technologies by the Centre for Advanced Mobility & Aerospace, as well as sustainable fluid energy technologies led by the Centre for Sustainable Fluid Energy Research.
During the discussion, Eric Pelletier said that Canada views higher education institutions as strategic partners in developing human capital, advancing research excellence and fostering stronger collaboration among universities, government and industry.
According to him, initiatives such as the SEED Programme and the Mitacs Globalink Research Award (MGRA)provide important opportunities for students, researchers and academics to enhance international mobility, undertake collaborative research and expand academic networks between Canada and partner countries.
He also encouraged greater participation in short-term attachment programmes involving academic staff and students as a platform for knowledge sharing, expertise exchange and professional networking. The areas of Clean Technologies and Energy were identified as key priorities with significant potential for joint research, innovation and technology development.
Meanwhile, Professor Ts. Dr. Mohd Rusllim said UMPSA welcomed Canada’s commitment to expanding strategic collaboration, particularly given the university’s strengths in engineering, technology, advanced TVET, applied research, innovation and industry collaboration.
“UMPSA believes that every international collaboration should create meaningful impact through talent development, research excellence, technology transfer, innovation and industry linkages that benefit both countries,” he said.
He added that UMPSA’s strategic relationship with Canada continues to grow through academic collaboration, research partnerships and capacity-building initiatives. To date, UMPSA has established formal partnerships with Concordia University and the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) covering academic collaboration, research, mobility and talent development.
In addition, a lecturer from the Centre for Human Sciences (PSK) is currently undertaking a nine-month research sabbatical at the University of British Columbia (UBC) from January to October 2026. The research focuses on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), particularly in the area of TVET management and leadership, further strengthening knowledge sharing, capacity development and research networks between UMPSA and Canadian higher education institutions.
UMPSA’s participation in the Canadian Bureau for International Education (CBIE) Conference 2025 has also further expanded the university’s network with Canadian higher education institutions and strategic partners.
According to Professor Ts. Dr. Mohd Rusllim, UMPSA is currently identifying additional universities, research institutions and industry partners in Canada to establish new strategic collaborations, particularly in Clean Technologies, Energy, advanced TVET, applied research, innovation and industry-driven education.
He further highlighted that UMPSA aims to expand participation in Canadian academic mobility and research funding initiatives such as the SEED Programme and Mitacs Globalink Research Award (MGRA) to enhance staff and student mobility, strengthen international research collaboration, secure competitive research grants, and accelerate talent development and technology transfer.
Professor Ts. Dr. Mohd Rusllim also expressed his appreciation to the High Commission of Canada in Malaysia for its continuous commitment in connecting higher education institutions, researchers and industry partners between Malaysia and Canada.
The visit marks another significant milestone in UMPSA’s internationalisation agenda to establish high-impact global strategic networks. Through its strengths in TVET, technology, applied research and innovation, UMPSA remains committed to expanding international collaborations that contribute to future talent development, industrial advancement and global excellence in higher education.