KUALA LUMPUR: Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) aims to strengthen its strategic collaboration with media organisations to ensure that fact-based information and university research findings are communicated to the public more effectively.
UTM’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Dr Mohd Shafry Mohd Rahim, said close cooperation between the university and the media is essential to accurately disseminate authentic information, research findings, and academic expertise for the benefit of society.
He said higher education institutions increasingly face challenges arising from inaccurate allegations and criticism that could undermine their reputation and erode public confidence built over many years.
“It takes decades to build a university, yet inaccurate negative portrayals can quickly damage its reputation. That is why we need closer ties with the media so that fact-based explanations can be conveyed to the public promptly,” he said at the University Management’s Media Networking Session here on Wednesday (Aug. 5)
Also present at the event were Malaysian National News Agency’s (BERNAMA) Chief Executive Officer, Datin Paduka Nur-ul Afida Kamaludin, and its Acting Deputy Editor-in-Chief (Economic News Service), Harlina Samson.
Shafry said UTM is also prepared to share its expertise with media practitioners by organising training programmes on artificial intelligence (AI) and expanding access to its professors and subject-matter experts as reference sources to support more accurate and high-quality reporting.
He added that the university is developing mechanisms to enhance the dissemination of its research findings and innovations through the media.
He expressed hope that the continued collaboration would strengthen Malaysia’s higher education ecosystem while further enhancing UTM’s standing on the global stage. – BERNAMA
