A new pathway for academic and research cooperation between Malaysia and the United States began to take shape on 28 July 2026 when Universiti Kuala Lumpur Business School (UniKL BIS) welcomed Professor Dr. Sam Lee from the College of Business and Economics at California State University, Fullerton (CSUF).
The strategic visit provided a platform for both institutions to explore a potential long-term partnership encompassing international student mobility, faculty exchanges, collaborative research and globally oriented business education.
The discussion was chaired by Associate Professor Dr. Rosni Abdul Wahid, Deputy Dean of International, Industrial and Institutional Partnership at UniKL BIS.
Also participating were Ms. Lili Susanti, Head of the International Partnership Section; Mr. Muhammad Nizam Shamsudin from the Research Unit; Dr. David Wang from the Marketing Department; and Ms. Adilah, representing UniKL’s International Office.
The meeting began with an exchange of institutional profiles, allowing UniKL BIS and CSUF to share their respective academic strengths, research achievements and internationalisation priorities.
Representing CSUF’s College of Business and Economics, Professor Dr Sam Lee conveyed the faculty leadership’s aspiration to expand strategic global partnerships through meaningful academic engagement and collaborative research.
Discussions subsequently focused on several potential areas of cooperation, including student and faculty mobility programmes, joint research projects, academic publications, guest lectures and knowledge-sharing sessions.
The two institutions also explored opportunities to co-host international conferences, seminars and other academic activities that could connect researchers, students and industry representatives from Malaysia and the United States.
Beyond mobility and research, the discussion considered possible pathways for articulation and collaborative academic programmes.
Industry-engaged initiatives were also identified as a potential area for collaboration. By connecting academic learning with real-world business challenges, future programmes could strengthen graduate employability, entrepreneurship capabilities and students’ readiness to participate in the global economy.
Following the discussion, Professor Dr. Sam Lee was given a guided tour of UniKL Business School’s newly established premises at Level 2 of the Quill City Mall Campus.
During the visit, Professor Dr. Sam Lee also met Professor Dr. Kushsairy Abdul Kadir, Vice-Chancellor of Universiti Kuala Lumpur, for a brief courtesy engagement.
Their meeting provided an opportunity to exchange perspectives on the growing importance of international higher education collaboration, particularly in strengthening academic quality, research networks and cross-cultural learning opportunities.
The potential UniKL–CSUF partnership primarily contributes to United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 4: Quality Education by expanding access to international learning, academic knowledge and high-quality educational opportunities.
It also advances SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals through cross-border institutional cooperation. Future research, innovation and industry-engaged activities may further support SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth and SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure.
