{"id":259,"date":"2026-09-05T10:36:56","date_gmt":"2026-09-05T10:36:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/comp.utm.my\/student\/2026\/09\/05\/utm-delegation-strengthens-global-ties-through-new-zealand-outreach\/"},"modified":"2026-09-05T10:36:56","modified_gmt":"2026-09-05T10:36:56","slug":"utm-delegation-strengthens-global-ties-through-new-zealand-outreach","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/comp.utm.my\/student\/2026\/09\/05\/utm-delegation-strengthens-global-ties-through-new-zealand-outreach\/","title":{"rendered":"UTM delegation strengthens global ties through New Zealand outreach"},"content":{"rendered":"

CHRISTCHURCH, Sep 4 \u2013<\/strong> Beyond the technological frontiers of extended reality (XR) and immersive learning, the New Zealand XR Trip 2026 (NEXT\u201926) delegation from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) enriched their international journey through a series of meaningful community and cultural engagements in Christchurch, New Zealand. Engaging with the local Muslim community, the Canterbury Malaysia Students\u2019 Association (CMSA), and Christchurch\u2019s multicultural community, the students gained profound lessons in resilience, cross-cultural connection and global networking.<\/p>\n

A deeply humbling highlight of the delegation\u2019s community outreach was a meaningful visit to Masjid Al Noor. This engagement provided the students with a space to connect with the local Muslim community and gain deeper perspectives on resilience and gratitude.<\/p>\n

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A group photo of NEXT\u201926 participants during their first community engagement at Masjid Al Noor, Christchurch<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

During the visit, the Imam of Masjid Al Noor, Ustaz Mohd Idris Osman, spoke about the tragic incident of 2019 and its lasting impact on the community\u2019s journey toward healing. The students were also privileged to meet a survivor of the incident, Rahimi Ahmad, who shared his personal reflections.<\/p>\n

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Ustaz Mohd Idris Osman, Imam of Masjid Al Noor, delivered a heartfelt sharing session to the UTM delegation.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The session offered a powerful reminder that global exposure extends beyond sightseeing and academic pursuits. It is about listening, understanding different experiences, and gaining lessons in peace and the value of life that can be translated into meaningful action back home.<\/p>\n

The delegation also focused on fostering international ties through their ongoing engagement with the Canterbury Malaysia Students\u2019 Association (CMSA). Having previously joined the 69th Malaysian Independence Day celebration at the University of Canterbury (UC), the UTM students continued to bring a piece of home to the international campus by hosting a collaborative mencanting batik<\/em> session. The interactive activity served as a meaningful platform to celebrate Malaysian heritage while building lasting connections.<\/p>\n

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CMSA and NEXT\u201926 students showcasing their completed batik artwork<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The spirit of cultural exchange continued at a Community Potluck Gathering, organized by the Welcome Academy Trust at the Multicultural Recreation and Community Centre. Through food, music, and shared stories, the event brought together a vibrant mix of individuals from diverse backgrounds\u2014including Iran, Singapore, Malaysia and the local New Zealand community.<\/p>\n

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NEXT\u201926 participants connected with members of the community during the gathering<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As a gesture of cultural exchange, the NEXT\u201926 students prepared and served nasi lemak, introducing Malaysia\u2019s beloved national dish to the wider Christchurch community. The shared meal became a natural bridge for people to exchange stories and discover common ground. The students also contributed to the evening\u2019s atmosphere through vibrant cultural performances. They led the crowd in singing the iconic Malaysian track \u201cStanding in the Eyes of the World\u201d by Ella and joined the local community to perform the M\u0101ori waiata \u201cT\u016btira Mai Ng\u0101 Iwi”.<\/p>\n

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Cultural exchange through food as NEXT’26 students serve nasi lemak to local community members<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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A lively joint performance of \u201cT\u016btira Mai Ng\u0101 Iwi\u201d bringing the UTM students and the local community together<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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The UTM delegations and members of the multicultural community at the Community Potluck Gathering<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

For the NEXT\u201926 delegation, comprising Bachelor of Computer Science (Graphics and Multimedia Software) with Honours students from the Faculty of Computing, UTM, these diverse interactions emphasized that cultural fluency is just as crucial as technical expertise. Through this multi-faceted outreach, the delegation embodied UTM\u2019s strategic commitment under the UTM ASCEND 2030 vision, showcasing what it means to be globally competent, socially conscious graduates equipped to bridge communities across borders.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A delegation from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) strengthened global ties through community and cultural engagements in Christchurch, New Zealand, during the New Zealand XR Trip 2026 (NEXT’26). The students connected with the local Muslim community, Canterbury Malaysia Students’ Association, and multicultural community, gaining lessons in resilience and cross-cultural connection. The delegation’s outreach emphasized the importance of cultural fluency and global competence in bridging communities across borders.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-259","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-community-engagement"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/comp.utm.my\/student\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/259","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/comp.utm.my\/student\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/comp.utm.my\/student\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/comp.utm.my\/student\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/comp.utm.my\/student\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=259"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/comp.utm.my\/student\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/259\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/comp.utm.my\/student\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=259"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/comp.utm.my\/student\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=259"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/comp.utm.my\/student\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=259"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}