by Yeoh Li Cheng
BELGIUM, 14 September 2026 – Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM) has strengthened its collaboration with VIVES University of Applied Sciences, Belgium, through the signing of Erasmus+ KA171 Inter-Institutional Agreement (IIA) for higher education mobility.
The agreement was signed by UTHM Vice Chancellor, Professor Ts. Dr. Mas Fawzi bin Mohd Ali, and President of VIVES, Mrs Kathy Dewitte. The signing was witnessed by UTHM Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and International), Professor Dr. Afandi bin Ahmad, and VIVES Head of Global Engagement Office, Ms Tine Ternest.
The signing took place during the UTHM delegation’s official visit to VIVES University of Applied Sciences in Belgium. The delegation was accompanied by the Director of the International Office, Professor Dr. Muhammad Ramlee bin Kamarudin, and Professor Dr. Erween Abd Rahim, Chief Executive Officer of the UTHM Tanjung Laboh Management Office.
On the same occasion, both institutions formally signed and exchanged copies of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), further strengthening their institutional collaboration.
The IIA signing marks a major step in the implementation of the Erasmus+ KA171 grant, which supports mobility opportunities between UTHM and VIVES over the next three years.
The collaboration began during the European Association for International Education (EAIE) conference in September 2025 and has since developed through student mobility and academic engagement.
In March 2026, UTHM welcomed its first VIVES student, Robbe Ryckeboer, who undertook a semester exchange and research internship at the Faculty of Electrical and Electronic Engineering and Sustainable Campus Office.
The collaboration was further developed during the visit of Mr Evert Cottyn, Coordinator for Internationalisation (Technology) at VIVES, to UTHM in June 2026, which offered an opportunity to explore potential areas for further collaboration and student’s mobility programme.
The collaboration was coordinated by Ms Yeoh Li Cheng, Head of Department of International Mobility and Student Experience, International Office, UTHM, and Mr Evert Cottyn, Coordinator for Internationalisation (Technology), VIVES.
With the Erasmus+ KA171 grant now in place, both institutions look forward to expanding mobility opportunities and exploring further areas of academic and institutional collaboration in the coming years
