The delegation from Fo Guang University arrived in Malaysia on November 26 to embark on a series of academic exchange activities. Accompanied by Venerable You Deng, a lecturer at the Fo Guang Shan Education Center and advisor to the University of Malaya’s Center for Humanistic Buddhism Studies, the team visited the University of Malaya. The delegation was warmly received by Dr. Firuza Begham Mustafa, Deputy Director of Higher Degree Programs, who hosted President Chao Han-Chieh and the Fo Guang University team.
Deepening Collaboration: Exchange Programs and Academic Alignment
Building on a previously signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), the discussions at the University of Malaya focused on international collaborations such as student exchange programs and short-term camps. Special emphasis was placed on credit transfer and mutual recognition mechanisms in the fields of humanities and social sciences, paving the way for more seamless cooperation in the future.
A Decade of Partnership: New Milestones with UTAR
Following the University of Malaya visit, the delegation proceeded to Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR), a sister university of Fo Guang University. UTAR Vice President Dr. Chong Chieng Jen personally welcomed the delegation. Faculty representatives from both the Sungai Long and Kampar campuses participated in the discussions, which included key members from UTAR’s Institute of Chinese Studies and International Office, as well as Fo Guang University’s International Office Director, Lai Shun-An.
Since the establishment of the sister university relationship in 2014, Fo Guang University and UTAR have achieved fruitful outcomes in academic exchanges and faculty-student visits. Notably, UTAR professors Huang Wen-Bin and Hsieh Bao-Chuan served as exchange faculty at Fo Guang University in 2022 and 2023, contributing to significant advancements in Chinese Studies and Buddhist Studies collaborations between the two institutions.
During this meeting, both universities reached a consensus on launching dual-degree programs, starting with master’s and doctoral programs in Chinese Studies and Buddhist Studies. They also agreed on initial directions for joint research projects and enhanced cooperation between their respective Buddhist Studies centers. These developments mark the beginning of a “golden decade” for international collaboration between the two institutions.
Fo Guang University’s efforts exemplify its ambition to expand international academic partnerships, achieving a significant milestone in its global development strategy.
