2026-03-16

The 2nd China (Heilongjiang)–Malaysia Higher Education Exchange Week: Building a Long-term Platform for Educational Exchange

The 2nd China (Heilongjiang)–Malaysia Higher Education Exchange Week was held in Heilongjiang Province from November 17 to 21, 2025. Co-hosted by the Malaysia-China Cultural Tourism Association (MCCTA), the Foreign Affairs Office of the People’s Government of Heilongjiang Province, and the Education Department of Heilongjiang Province, this year’s event focused on inter-school cooperation and talent cultivation to deepen educational ties between Malaysia and Northeast China.

The Malaysian delegation consisted of 15 representatives, including Muhammad Sallehuddin, Education Counselor of the Embassy of Malaysia in China, and Syarifah Nurolazan, First Secretary of the Embassy. The university delegation—comprising the University of Cyberjaya (UoC), Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM), Management and Science University (MSU), Universiti Poly-Tech Malaysia (UPTM), and Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL) —engaged in pragmatic dialogues and collaboration with 20 Chinese institutions, including Harbin University of Commerce (HUC), Mudanjiang Normal University (MNU), Heilongjiang University (HLJU), Heilongjiang University of Science and Technology (USTH), and Harbin Medical University (HMU). Discussions centered on faculty and student exchanges, curriculum collaboration, scientific research synergy, and joint training programs.

In addition to the aforementioned universities, the event received participation and support from ECI Higher Education Sdn Bhd.

The two flagship events of the exchange week were held on November 18 at Harbin University of Commerce and November 20 at Mudanjiang Normal University, covering various sessions including opening ceremonies, keynote speeches, roundtable meetings, university matchmaking sessions, postgraduate study abroad exhibitions, and the signing of inter-school cooperation agreements.

Muhammad Sallehuddin, Education Counselor of the Embassy of Malaysia in China, stated in his speech that interactions between Malaysia and China in the field of education have continued to deepen in recent years, gradually forming a multi-layered cooperation framework centered on student mobility, institutional collaboration, and linguistic-cultural exchange. He expressed his expectation that both sides could explore more cooperation possibilities in emerging fields of mutual interest, such as artificial intelligence, green technology, and creative industries.

Natalie Chan, President of the Malaysia-China Cultural Tourism Association, pointed out that this exchange week builds upon the achievements of the inaugural event and further focuses on deep integration between institutions. She hopes that universities in Malaysia and China will continue to join hands, using educational cooperation and cultural exchange as a bridge to create a brighter future together.

Beyond the formal exchange activities, the Malaysian university delegation also visited the Harbin Institute of Technology Space Museum, the Harbin Planning Exhibition Hall, and Harbin Central Street, deepening their understanding of Heilongjiang from the perspectives of education, technology, and culture.