Dr. Aimee Abdul, Mapúa MCM BS Biology Program Chair, during her visit to Sunway University in Malaysia.
Mapúa Malayan Colleges Mindanao (Mapúa MCM) strengthened its internationalization efforts through the successful faculty mobility of Dr. Aimee Abdul, Program Chair of the BS Biology under the College of Health Sciences, at Sunway University, Malaysia. The engagement supported the Faculty Mobility Program and opened pathways for potential research collaboration between the two institutions under Xchange 2025, an initiative focused on advancing institutional internationalization through regional benchmarking and collaborative innovation.
During her visit, Dr. Abdul met with the faculty of the School of Medical and Life Sciences, where she presented Mapúa MCM’s academic vision, innovative directions, and ongoing initiatives. The engagement fostered meaningful dialogue and strengthened opportunities for partnership. She also delivered lectures titled “The Impact of Environmental Science on Human Health,” engaging Medical and Life Sciences undergraduate and graduate students in discussions on the connections between environmental challenges and community well-being. Reflecting on the experience, she shared, “It is a privilege to connect with the distinguished Heads and lecturers at Sunway University. I greatly value this opportunity for partnership and eagerly anticipate a highly productive discussion.”
Dr Lau Tze Pheng, Programme Leader BSc (Hons) Medical Biotechnology Prof Alvin Ng Lai Oon, Professor Prof Vetriselvan Subramaniyan, Professor Dr. Aimee Abdul, Program Chair BS Biology (Mapua MCM) Prof Raja Affendi Raja Ali, Dean, Faculty of Medical and Life Sciences Assoc Prof Dr Jactty Chew, Deputy Dean (Education), Faculty of Medical and Life Sciences Prof Felicia Chung Fei Lei, Head, Department of Biomedical Sciences
Dr. Abdul also participated in AppliedHE Xchange 2025, a regional gathering centered on excellence, engagement, and evolution in higher education. The conference featured collaborative workshops on internationalization, student diversity, research capacity, and institutional impact, alongside discussions on university rankings and sustainable transformation. Highlighting the value of the engagement, she noted, “The AppliedHE Xchange 2025 focused on Excellence, Engagement, Evolution in higher education, with AI and Digitalization being a critical sub-theme… The networking experience was highly strategic and collaborative.”
The mobility concluded with a tour of Sunway University’s advanced Life Science laboratories, providing exposure to state-of-the-art facilities and further strengthening discussions on future academic and research initiatives. She remarked, “Sunway University is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities in the School of Medical and Life Sciences… They house sophisticated instruments for deep biological and molecular analysis.”
Through this initiative, Mapúa Malayan Colleges Mindanao continues to expand global learning opportunities, deepen research collaboration, and reinforce strategic academic partnerships. The engagement supports the University’s commitment to SDG 3 – Good Health and Well-being, SDG 4 – Quality Education, SDG 9 – Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, SDG 10 – Reduced Inequalities, SDG 13 – Climate Action, and SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals, reflecting its mission to deliver globally responsive and impact-driven education.