Erasmus Mundus Scholarship Sharing Session at University Malaysia Terengganu (UMT)

On 15th April, 2025, Erasmus Mundus Association (EMA) Board Member Dr. Collins Santhanasamy and EMA Country Representative for Malaysia Ronald Willie Binati hosted an Erasmus Mundus Scholarship Sharing Session (EMSSS) at the Creative Hub of the Institute of Oceanography and Environment (INOS), University Malaysia Terengganu (UMT). The institute has hosted 170 students from 49 countries over the last 10 years (2015-25) as part of the Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree in Tropical Biodiversity and Ecosystems (TROPIMUNDO) program. 

This sharing session was open to the public and targeted at students, staff, and anyone interested in pursuing an Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree. Mr. Timo Goosman, Counsellor Minister - Head of Political Affairs, Press and Information, European Union Delegation to Malaysia, spoke on the activities of the EU Delegation in Malaysia and provided a brief overview of Erasmus+ offerings. Associate Professor Dr. Behara Satyanarayana (Satyam), Local Program Coordinator for Erasmus Mundus TROPIMUNDO, gave the audience an overview of the TROPIMUNDO program as well as programs offered by the university. A fun fact: TROPIMUNDO is the first Erasmus Mundus Program in Europe to integrate carbon offsetting into its student mobility scheme!

Mr. Ronald Willie Binati shared more information on Erasmus+ as well as his own mobility experience as an Erasmus Mundus alumnus of the VINTAGE program and Dr. Collins Santhanasamy spoke on EMA and its offerings to members in addition to his own mobility experience with EMJMDPHID. Participants were also shown the Erasmus Mundus Catalogue and global resources available to assist them should they choose to apply to the scholarship program. 

Speakers were warmly welcomed to University Malaysia Terengganu by Prof Ts. Dr. Mohd Fadzil Mohd Akhir, Pro Vice Chancellor; Prof. Ts. Dr. Lam Su Shiung, Director of UMT International Centre; Dato’ Dr. Ahmad Ramzi Mohamad Zubir, Group CEO, UMT Holdings;  Mr. Zakaria Anssary Abdul Rashid, General Manager, UMT Holdings; Ms. Erwina A. Ghafar, CEO, UMT School of Educational Advancement (SEA); Ms. Nurul Aini Abdullah, Manager, UMTSEA (Terengganu Branch); and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tuan Nurul Sabiqah Tuan Anuar, Deputy Director of UMT International Centre. The sharing session ran from 2-5pm and concluded with a networking tea hosted by UMT.

For more information on EMA in Malaysia, kindly contact EMA Country Representative Ronald Willie Binati at malaysia@em-a.eu 

*This event was funded by a grant from the European Commission (DG EAC) through the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA), under the Erasmus+ Student and Alumni Alliance (ESAA) Work Package 3.2.3, supporting members in sharing their Erasmus+ experiences at an individual level. The Erasmus Mundus Association’s Project Support Unit (PSU) provided vital support to activity leads, greatly contributing to the event’s success.