Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Pulau Pinang branch, Penang, Malaysia received a courtesy visit and benchmarking from a delegation from Bali Tourism Polytechnic (BiTP), Indonesia, on various activities. The delegates were Dr. Ida Bagus Putu Puja (Director of BiTP), Dr. Luh Yusni Wiarti (Deputy Director 3 for Cooperation), Mdm. Lukia Zuraida (Head of Quality Assurance) and Mdm. Dewa Ayu Made Lily Diana Sari (Coordinator of Tourism Destination Programme). One of the activities is benchmarking for QS ranking (Quacquarelli Symonds ranking). The main programme of benchmarking by BiTP includes discussion sessions with university management and the implementation of the QS University Ranking, QS Ranking by Subject, and other related areas. From the UiTM Pulau Pinang Branch, six members were involved, led by Professor Dr. Hashim Fadzil Ariffin (Faculty Head of the Faculty of Hospitality and Tourism Management (FPHP)), who was joined by Dr. Anderson Ngelambong (Head of Bachelor\’s Programme of FPHP), Associate Professor Ir. Dr. Nor Azlan Othman (Head of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering (PKE)), Associate Professor Dr. Noorsuhada Md Nor (Ranking Champion), Dr. Nor Khadijah Mohd Azhari (Coordinator of the International Affairs Office) and Associate Professor Ir. Dr. Nor Salwa Damanhuri (Member for Solar Engineering). To get a clear picture of the implementation of the QS ranking, an exchange event was held on November 3, 2023, at Bilik Mesyuarat UiTM Global, UiTM Shah Alam, Selangor.
The benchmarking was officially chaired by Professor Dr. Ahmad Naqiyuddin Bakar, Director of Strategic Partnership. A lively discussion was held with the Chairman and delegates of BiTP, Indonesia, especially on QS ranking and strategic planning for the future between two universities from two countries. The Director of the Ranking Department, Ir. Dr. Amirul Abd Rashid, shared the QS ranking initiatives with all participants. He started with the organisation that produces the university ranking, the resident reviewers, the university’s strategic direction towards the ranking, the framework to improve the strategy, the Malaysia Education Blueprint, and others. The delegates were then honoured by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Internationalisation) of Professor Dr. Shahriman Zainal Abidin.
The session did not end at UiTM Global, in the afternoon, it continued with an exchange with the Dean of the Faculty of Hospitality and Tourism Management, Associate Professor Dr. Norzuwana Sumarjan, and the Deputy of Academic Affairs. The session is closely related to the QS by Subject on Hospitality and Leisure Management, as the FPHP is ranked 52–100th (2023) in the global QS World University Ranking. As UiTM moves into the future, the commitment to excellence and continuous improvement remains steadfast. As benchmarking against global academic standards and striving for a higher QS ranking is an integral part of BiTP’s strategic vision, the strategic collaboration with UiTM will continue as a good partnership globally.