Putrajaya, 17 December 2025 — Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) hosted the ASEAN Cultural Nexus Gala Dinner at The Everly, Putrajaya, bringing together representatives from ASEAN embassies, international partners, and members of the UPM community to celebrate cultural harmony and regional collaboration.

The gala dinner served as the highlight of UPM ASEAN Cultural Nexus 2025, which earlier in the day featured a series of academic and cultural activities at Academic Complex A. The daytime programme engaged the campus community through forums, exhibitions, and interactive activities that showcased the diversity of ASEAN cultures while promoting regional awareness and knowledge-sharing.

Following the daytime programme, the evening gathering provided a formal yet welcoming platform for continued dialogue and connection. In her welcoming remarks, Yang Berbahagia Professor Dr. Alyani Ismail, Director of the PUTRA International Centre (i-PUTRA), emphasised the role of cultural exchange in fostering mutual understanding, people-to-people connectivity and meaningful regional collaboration.

This was followed by an opening address by Yang Berbahagia Dato’ Professor Dr. Ahmad Farhan Mohd Sadullah, Vice-Chancellor of UPM, who highlighted ASEAN as a strategic partner in the university’s internationalisation journey and reaffirmed UPM’s commitment to nurturing globally minded graduates through sustained engagement, mobility and cross-border collaboration within the region.

A key highlight of the evening was the pre-launch of the PUTRA Global Prominence Drive Plan and the PUTRA International System (PINS). The initiative reflects UPM’s continued efforts to enhance its international reach, streamline global engagement initiatives and strengthen institutional visibility on the world stage.

Guests were then invited to enjoy dinner accompanied by cultural performances, which added a celebratory dimension to the evening and highlighted the region's rich cultural heritage. The programme continued with the presentation of the UPM International Awards, recognising faculties, individuals and long-standing partners for their significant contributions to UPM’s internationalisation efforts. The awards acknowledged achievements in areas such as student mobility, international research collaboration, academic leadership and sustained institutional partnerships across ASEAN and beyond.

Through the combination of formal recognition, cultural expression and meaningful interaction, the ASEAN Cultural Nexus Gala Dinner accentuated the value of collaboration and mutual respect among regional partners. Together with the daytime programme, the event reflected UPM’s ongoing role as a hub for regional engagement, cultural exchange and international cooperation within the higher education landscape.

Date of Input: 19/12/2025 | Updated: 08/01/2026 | nurulshabila