To enhance its international collaborations and reinforce global partnerships in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), Universiti Kuala Lumpur Malaysia Italy Design Institute (UniKL MIDI) conducted a series of strategic engagement visits to leading vocational institutions in Guangzhou, China.
The delegation was led by UniKL Deputy President for International, Industrial & Institutional Partnership, Prof. Ir. Dr. Azmi Hassan, together with UniKL MIDI Deputy Dean of Academic & Technology, Dr. Nik Masmiati Nik Pa.
The visit took place from 24 to 26 November 2025 and focused on expanding academic pathways, boosting mobility programmes, exploring joint initiatives, and strengthening industry-linked training collaborations.
The first engagement was held at the Guangzhou Vocational University of Science and Technology (GZVUST), a pioneer in China’s undergraduate vocational education.
With strong engineering programmes and close ties to industries across the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area, GZVUST has built a reputation for producing high-level technical talent.
Discussions during the visit centred on establishing an international master’s joint training centre, enhancing short-term mobility opportunities, and exploring seamless undergraduate-to-master’s academic pathways.
Both parties acknowledged the importance of strengthening cross-border cooperation to support regional talent mobility and elevate the quality of TVET education.
The delegation then continued their visit to Guangzhou Huashang Vocational College (GZHSVC), a modern institution with a student population exceeding 22,000. A key highlight was the signing ceremony between UniKL and GZHSVC, marking a renewed commitment to long-term cooperation.
The event also saw the unveiling of the China–Malaysia Digital Commerce Training Base, a joint platform designed to advance training in digital commerce, cross-border e-commerce, innovation, and emerging technologies.
The meeting concluded with both institutions expressing readiness to expand collaboration in staff and student exchanges, applied research, and joint development projects.
On the second day, the UniKL team visited Guangzhou Textile and Garment Vocational School, a specialist institution focusing on textile technology, fashion design, and apparel manufacturing.
Discussions explored collaborative modules such as “Chinese + Vocational Skills” for UniKL’s fashion-related programmes, participation in national and international skills competitions, and opportunities for both short-term and semester-long exchange programmes.
The institutions also examined the potential for 3+3 and 3+2.5 credit-transfer arrangements, laying a strong foundation for a mutually beneficial partnership in the textile and fashion sectors.
The next engagement took place at Guangdong Polytechnic, one of China’s top-ranked vocational institutions renowned for its strength in textile and light industry.
The institution’s strong track record in the WorldSkills Competition and its recognised Double High-Level Programme status position it as an ideal partner for global TVET collaboration.
During the discussions, both institutions reviewed ongoing cooperation in WorldSkills training and reaffirmed their commitment to working together on programme development, faculty exchange, industry-driven student training, and other skills-based joint initiatives.
The final stop was Foshan Polytechnic, located in Foshan, a city celebrated both as the “City of Martial Arts” and the “Capital of Manufacturing.” Foshan Polytechnic proposed several potential areas for collaboration, including mutual academic exchanges, credit recognition mechanisms, and the establishment of Chinese Language + Vocational Skills training centres.
The institution also expressed interest in jointly developing “Kung Fu Workshop” training bases and pursuing collaborative research and community innovation projects. In recognition of UniKL’s commitment to international collaboration, the university was formally invited to join the Kung Fu Workshop Alliance, an international vocational education network.
The strategic visit to Guangzhou successfully strengthened UniKL’s relationships with China’s leading vocational institutions.
It also opened new avenues for academic mobility, dual qualifications, talent development, and innovation-driven TVET cooperation, reinforcing UniKL’s vision to become a global leader in high-quality technical education.
