SKSU initiated discussions and formally signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) with UCSI University, a prominent private higher education institution in Malaysia, on October 9, 2026, at the Chancellery Meeting Room, UCSI University in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The initiative marks a significant step toward strengthening international academic cooperation and expanding opportunities for institutional collaboration, research, innovation, and global engagement.
The meeting was attended by Dr. Adrian Protacio (GS Dean), representing the SKSU President, Atty. Cyrus Torrena, DPA, MNSA., VPAA Allan Maglantay, VPREI Mildred Accad, and Dir. International and External Affairs, Dr. Abraham Accad. He was accompanied by Dr. Helen Espartero (Tacurong Campus Director), Dr. Joylyn Gamiao (Chairperson, BS-Hospitality Management, and Dr. Elizabeth Bauzon (GS Associate Dean). The UCSI administrators in attendance were Assist. Prof. Nursyafiqah Binti Ramli (Dean, FHTM KL), Assist. Prof. Momahad Fadzly Bin Che Omar (Deputy Dean, FHTM KL), Ms. Nazatul Na’aimah Binti Zulkifly (Head of Department, Hospitality and Tourism Management), Ms. Riza Munira Binti Shamsudin (Head of Praxis, Industry and Community Engagement), Assist. Prof. Dr. Aladin Mahmod Ibrahim (Head of Programme, Hotel and Hospitality), Assist. Prof. Ronald Willie Binati (Head of Post Graduate Studies, FHTM KL), Prof. Ts. Dr. Lee Ming Tatt (Registered Scientist; Director, Office of the Post Graduate Studies), Mr. Han IL Kwang (Senior Manager for ASEAN Region, Global Engagement Office), and Senior Prof. Dr. Richard Peter Bailey (Stanford’s World Top 2% Scientist and a Faculty of Social Sciences and Liberal Arts).
During the meeting, representatives of both institutions discussed the proposed scope of partnership, which encompasses a broad range of academic and research initiatives. These include the joint organization of seminars, workshops, scientific conferences, and other meetings; student, faculty, and staff mobility and exchange; the exchange of scientific and academic materials; collaborative teaching and research; and the sharing of instructional resources, laboratories, and other academic facilities. The proposed collaboration also covers reciprocal student internships in the hospitality and tourism industries through institutions and industry partners affiliated with the host university, as well as benchmarking activities, professional networking, and academic study visits.
Further areas of cooperation include research review and collaboration, scholarship opportunities for faculty members and students, the development of dual-degree programs, and the engagement of faculty members as adjunct professors, subject to applicable institutional policies and approval processes. The partnership may also extend to other mutually agreed areas that support the academic, research, and institutional development priorities of both universities.
The initiative was initially spearheaded by Dr. Joylyn Gamiao, Chairperson of the Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management (BSHM) program at SKSU, in collaboration with Dr. Aladin Mahmod Ibrahim, with the proposed partnership originally focused on advancing the university’s hospitality management program. However, discussions during the meeting broadened the prospective collaboration beyond its initial disciplinary scope. UCSI University expressed its interest in exploring partnership opportunities with other SKSU academic units, including the Graduate School, College of Engineering, College of Teacher Education, and other relevant colleges and programs.
This broader direction reflects the partnership’s potential to foster interdisciplinary collaboration, promote international academic mobility, strengthen research capacity, and facilitate the exchange of knowledge and best practices across diverse fields of specialization.
The formal signing of the MoU and/or MoA is expected to proceed following the approval of the UCSI University Governing Board and the completion of the requisite institutional processes. Upon finalization, the partnership is expected to provide a framework for sustainable academic cooperation, enhance internationalization initiatives, and create meaningful opportunities for faculty members, students, and academic units of both institutions.
