by Assoc. Prof. Dr Nor Aziati Abdul Hamid

LIUZHOU, CHINA – Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM) is among the Malaysian higher education institutions taking part in the China–Malaysia TVET Industry–Education Alliance (CMTIEA), which was officially launched in Liuzhou, China, marking a significant milestone in bilateral cooperation in technical and vocational education and training (TVET).

The inaugural conference was held at the Lotus Villa Hotel and Liuzhou Railway Vocational & Technical College (LVRTC), and was officiated by the Deputy Mayor of the Liuzhou Municipal Government, Hu Lan. The programme brought together government representatives, universities, TVET institutions, and industry partners from both China and Malaysia to strengthen strategic collaboration in vocational education and industry development.

Guided by the principles of resource sharing, collaborative innovation, industry–education integration, and mutual benefit, CMTIEA focuses on priority areas of cooperation between the two countries. These include rail transportation, new energy and intelligent manufacturing, artificial intelligence (AI), and modern agriculture. Through three main pathways—joint talent cultivation, co-development of standards, and collaborative research and development (R&D)—the Alliance aims to establish an international ecosystem that supports sustainable industry–education integration.

Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA) played a strategic leadership role in the establishment of the Alliance and was officially recognised as Co-President of CMTIEA, together with LVRTC and China Communications Construction Company (CCCC). UMPSA was also appointed as the Malaysian Secretariat, while LVRTC serves as the China Secretariat.

UTHM joins other Malaysian member institutions in the Alliance, including Malaysia Rail Development Corporation (MRDC), Majlis TVET Negara (MTVET), Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL), Universiti College of Yayasan Pahang (UCYP), Pahang Skills Development Centre (PSDC), Politeknik Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin (PSMZA), and Kolej Komuniti Masjid Tanah.

UTHM’s participation in CMTIEA is coordinated through the Industrial Centre of Excellence for Railway (ICoE-Rail UTHM), which plays a key role in industry engagement, railway talent development, professional training, and international collaboration. Through ICoE-Rail, UTHM supports capacity-building initiatives, railway skills training, and applied research aligned with national and international railway projects.

In addition, railway engineering education and technical expertise from the Faculty of Engineering Technology (FTK), UTHM contribute to areas such as rail systems engineering, signalling and communication, rolling stock, electrification, and intelligent transport systems. Since 2024, UTHM—through ICoE-Rail and FTK—has been actively engaged with Chinese partners, including LVRTC, in railway training programmes, academic exchanges, and technical knowledge transfer, supporting workforce readiness for Malaysia’s major railway infrastructure projects.

Starting in 2026, the Alliance will implement four flagship initiatives: the International Railways Industry Skills Competition, Joint Malaysia Railway Industry Skills Competition, China–Malaysia “AI+” Teaching Resource Joint Development, and the “AI+” Skills Competition. These initiatives are expected to enhance industry-relevant skills, promote technology adoption, and strengthen cross-border talent mobility.

The establishment of the China–Malaysia TVET Industry–Education Alliance reflects UTHM’s continued commitment to industry-aligned education, international partnerships, and sustainable railway talent development, in line with national aspirations for transport, digitalisation, and infrastructure advancement.