QIU and Nanjing Normal University of Special Education (NNUSE) have officially launched a cross-border academic collaboration to advance postgraduate education in the field of special needs education.
The partnership will see both institutions offering a specialised postgraduate programme tailored to the unique requirements of special education, aiming to strengthen the pool of highly qualified educators who can support and uplift students with special needs in both Malaysia and China.
By nurturing more postgraduate-level educators in this field, the initiative is set to produce more teachers equipped to make a real difference in inclusive education environments.
Both institutions involved in the tie-up have demonstrated a commitment to improving special education from the outset. As an inclusive university, QIU has produced special education graduates under its Bachelor of Special Needs Education (Honours) programme who are contributing to the growth of the field today. Meanwhile, NNUSE is the only ordinary higher education institution in China set up independently to train special education teachers.
The collaboration was further cemented during a five-day visit to Malaysia by a high-level delegation from NNUSE, led by Professor Li La, Dean of the Special Education College, and Deputy Dean Ms. He Yanchun. Throughout their visit, the delegation engaged in insightful knowledge-sharing dialogues with policymakers, educators, and experts across Malaysia.
Together with NNUSE, we aim to address the increasing demand for qualified professionals in Malaysia and China’s special education sector. This collaboration will empower educators by developing their expertise, which will only benefit students with special needs in Malaysia, China and beyond.
Key engagements included meetings with Penang State Exco for Social Development, Welfare, and Non-Islamic Affairs YB Lim Siew Khim, and Perak State Exco for Education, Higher Education, Youth & Sports YB Khairudin Abu Hanipah.
To further enrich their understanding, the delegation held dialogues with top local experts in the field, including Consultant Community Paediatrician and Child and Disability Advocate Dato’ Dr Amar Singh HSS; Ministry of Education Special Education Division Assistant Director Dr Yoong May Soo; and Senior Inspector with the Perak State Schools’ Inspectorate Division Roziah Hamil.
QIU also organised an extensive campus tour for our NNUSE partners, along with visits to St. Nicholas’ Home Penang — a charitable organisation for the blind and visually impaired (BVI) — the Malaysia Jiangsu Entrepreneurs Business Association, and Sinomy TCM Healthcare Centre.
Throughout their visit here, the delegation was accompanied by university and faculty leadership, including Global Integrated Training Associates Chief Executive Officer Nicholas Goh, Vice-Chancellor Prof Zita Mohd Fahmi, Registrar Muhammad MG Omar, and Faculty of Social Sciences Dean Prof. Dr Sivabala Naidu.
This collaboration marks a significant milestone in QIU’s ongoing mission to foster inclusive education and create meaningful impact beyond the classroom—empowering educators to become agents of change in their communities.
