Qingdao, 14 Nov 2025 – Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) deepened its international partnerships through a courtesy visit to the College of Geodesy and Geomatics, Shandong University of Science and Technology (SDUST) in conjunction with the FIG/IHO/ICA IBSC Intersessional Meeting & Stakeholder Workshop 2025 from 9-14 November 2025 at Qingdao, China.
Throughout the week, UTM delegation engaged in strategic discussions to enhance research collaboration, student mobility and capacity building in hydrographic surveying. The visit also connected UTM with key global institutions and industry stakeholders in marine geospatial technology. Key highlights included:
- Technical visit to Qingdao Tidal Benchmark Station, the reference point for China’s National Vertical Datum 1985.
- Industry engagements with Beijing Hydro-Tech Marine Technology Co. Ltd. (MBES & SSS sea trials) and Qingdao Yuehai Information Services Ltd. (marine GIS and big-data solutions).
- Exploration of maritime heritage at the Qingdao Naval Museum, linking naval history with modern hydrographic relevance.
The IBSC Stakeholder Workshop 2025 brought together 12 local and international agencies and organizations, strengthening global cooperation aimed at elevating standards and competence in hydrographic surveying education. This milestone visit marks a new chapter in UTM–SDUST collaboration, positioning UTM as a rising leader in marine administration and hydrospatial domain regionally and globally.
