The University of Kamalia (UKM) has taken another step towards expanding its international academic footprint by establishing new avenues of cooperation with Malaysian higher education institutions in student and faculty exchange, research, innovation, entrepreneurship and professional training.
The development came during a visit by a Malaysian academic delegation to the University of Kamalia, where the visiting scholars held discussions with university faculty and students and explored areas for future academic and research collaboration. The delegation included Dr Mohamad Shafiq bin Mohd Ibrahim, Assistant Professor at the Kulliyyah of Dentistry, International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), and Ts. Dr Ahmad Ilyas bin Rushdan, Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Chemical and Energy Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM). Both academics are listed in their respective institutions’ official directories.
According to the university, a Letter of Expression signed during the engagement is intended to facilitate opportunities for University of Kamalia students and faculty to interact with Malaysian academics and students, participate in collaborative research and innovation activities, receive specialised training and explore joint entrepreneurship and academic initiatives.
The proposed cooperation covers a broad range of activities, including student and faculty mobility, joint research projects, workshops, professional development programmes and innovation-related initiatives. The engagement also provides a platform for connecting academic expertise from Pakistan and Malaysia in areas of mutual interest.
Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Yasir Nawab said international partnerships form an important part of the University of Kamalia’s efforts to connect its academic community with the wider global education and research landscape. He emphasised that the university wants international linkages to translate into practical opportunities for students and faculty rather than remain limited to formal agreements.
He said the University of Kamalia is a young institution with a global outlook and aims to prepare students to participate in research, innovation and entrepreneurship while developing the skills needed in an increasingly interconnected economy.
The Malaysian delegation’s participation also brought academic expertise from diverse disciplines to the discussions. Dr. Mohamad Shafiq is associated with paediatric dentistry and dental public health at IIUM, while Ts. Dr. Ahmad Ilyas works in chemical engineering at UTM and has research interests including biopolymers, nanocellulose and composite materials. UTM has also recently highlighted Dr. Ahmad Ilyas’s international research engagement in Pakistan.
The visiting academics interacted with University of Kamalia faculty members and students, sharing professional experiences and discussing possible areas for collaboration. The university said the discussions could lead to joint research, innovation projects, workshops, professional training and other academic activities.
As part of the visit, the Malaysian academics also participated in a tree plantation activity on the University of Kamalia campus. The activity was presented as a symbol of friendship between the two countries as well as a shared emphasis on environmental responsibility and sustainability.
The new Malaysia connection adds to University of Kamalia’s recent efforts to expand institutional collaboration beyond Pakistan. The university’s official website records other international and inter-university engagement in 2026, including collaboration with Universiti Tenaga Nasional and visits by international academic delegations.
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For University of Kamalia, the latest engagement places international academic exposure, research collaboration and innovation opportunities at the centre of its continuing institutional development, potentially giving its students and faculty additional avenues to connect with universities and researchers beyond Pakistan.
