The AI & IR4.0 Industry Exposure Programme and the CAAUEII AI Application Challenge was completed.

The ACEC's collaboration with UiTM's Suzhou study tour deepens China–Malaysia cooperation and cultivates future talent. The success of this initiative is rooted in a 2023 roundtable between ACEC, Chinese universities, and representatives of Chinese companies expanding overseas, including Malaysia's then-Deputy Minister of Human Resources (now Minister of Higher Education), which laid a solid foundation for subsequent collaboration.

01 Welcome Ceremony

With the joint coordination of ACEC and BRICC (BRI Cross Cultural Center), a delegation of over 30 faculty and students from the Faculty of Engineering at Malaysia's Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) began a one-week "Frontier Industry Experiential Study Program" in Suzhou this week. This program focuses on cutting-edge fields such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Fourth Industrial Revolution (IR4.0).

At the welcome ceremony on May 16, Gao Lei, Vice President of Suzhou City University, attended in person and emphasized the importance of international academic exchange and innovation cooperation. The Deputy Dean of UiTM's Faculty of Engineering also delivered a speech on behalf of the university, expressing great anticipation for the study tour.

02 Study Program

During the week-long program, the students visited Suzhou—an important high-tech industrial hub in China—to gain in-depth insights into leading Chinese universities and enterprises in AI and intelligent manufacturing. Through campus tours, technical lectures, and on-site visits to companies, they experienced the forefront of technology and its industrial applications in an immersive setting.

To foster cross-cultural understanding, the delegation also visited sites such as Suzhou's Lingering Garden, Shantang Street, and the Taifa Mosque on Shilu Taipingfang, immersing themselves in the rich and inclusive cultural heritage of the city.

03 Deepening China–Malaysia Cooperation & Cultivating Future Talent

This initiative is another key example of ACEC and BRICC's long-term efforts to promote cooperation between Chinese and ASEAN universities. Its objectives are to:

1. Enhance global competitiveness and industry insight among students from Chinese and ASEAN universities.

2. Deepen collaborative innovation between academic institutions and industries in China and Malaysia.

3. Explore sustainable models for joint research and talent development.

In an era where internationalization and digital transformation are increasingly vital, ACEC will continue to build bridges and strengthen educational and cultural connectivity between China and ASEAN, partnering to foster a future of innovation and humanistic exchange.

04 CAAUEII AI Application Challenge 2025

The CAAUEII AI Application Challenge 2025, organized by China-ASEAN Alliance of Universities for Electronic Information Innovation (CAAUEII) of CAIH and ACEC Association, closed its submission window in mid‑June. Entries are currently being evaluated, and the final results are expected to be announced in early July.