Mataram, August 19, 2025 – Universitas Mataram (UNRAM) once again demonstrated its strong commitment to strengthening international collaboration by hosting the Academic Collaboration Series 2025 in partnership with Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Pahang, Malaysia. Held over three days from August 19–21, 2025, the program carried the theme “Empowering Educators through Digital Transformation” and featured a series of seminars, workshops, and knowledge transfer programs involving lecturers, students, and teachers.

The event began on Tuesday (19/8) at UNRAM’s Faculty of Teacher Training and Education (FKIP) with the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) between the two universities. The signing was witnessed by the Dean of FKIP, the Head of the English Education Department, and the Head of UNRAM’s Office of International Affairs. The session continued with discussions on teaching and research collaborations, followed by a campus tour.

Later that afternoon, an international seminar titled “Empowering Educators through Digital Transformation” took place at UNRAM’s Rectorate Senate Hall. The seminar featured distinguished speakers from UiTM including Dr. Badli Esham Ahmad, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kamisah Ariffin, Dr. Nadhratunnaim Abas, Farahiya Zalikha Zakaria, and Norhidayah Md Yusof, alongside UNRAM’s own experts Prof. Kamaludin Yusra, Ph.D., and Prof. Mahyuni, M.A., Ph.D.

Discussions explored timely issues such as the role of persuasive language in the digital era, authorship ethics in the rise of artificial intelligence, and the opportunities and challenges of AI in English language learning across the Global South. “Digital transformation offers vast opportunities, but it also demands new ethics and adaptation in education,” emphasized Dr. Badli Esham Ahmad during his keynote address.

On the second day (20/8), the series continued with an Academic Workshop at FKIP UNRAM’s Building A Auditorium, attended by hundreds of undergraduate students. The workshop featured interactive sessions on academic writing strategies, building academic voice, and the use of persuasive language in scholarly texts. In addition to face-to-face sessions, students also participated in online classes led by UiTM lecturers, covering topics such as pre-writing techniques, creativity in academic writing, and exploring literary genres as tools for academic expression. The workshop received enthusiastic responses, as it brought together international perspectives with an engaging teaching approach.

The highlight of the series came on the third day (21/8) with the Knowledge Transfer Program at SMAN 7 Mataram, themed “From the Lab to the Field.” Unlike the previous sessions where UiTM lecturers took the lead, this time five UNRAM students stepped forward as the main instructors. Having received special training from UiTM, the students introduced an innovative English learning method using Smart Intralingual Subtitles to high school learners.

The session was met with excitement and positive feedback. “This learning model is very interesting, and we enjoyed studying through this approach,” said one of the SMAN 7 students after the class. Representing UNRAM’s Rector, the FKIP leadership stated that this event marks a concrete step in accelerating the university’s internationalization efforts. Through the Academic Collaboration Series 2025, UNRAM aims to expand its global network, enhance the capacity of its lecturers and students, and contribute meaningfully to the advancement of education, particularly in West Nusa Tenggara.