About UMAP

University Mobility in Asia and the Pacific (UMAP) is a consortium of Higher Education Institutions and partners, collaborating to increase opportunities for study abroad across the Asia Pacific region through a variety of short and long-term in-person and virtual exchange opportunities, as well as Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) experiences. 

The approximately 25 members represent countries in and around Central Asia, South Asia, and the Pacific Rim, including East and Southeast Asia, Australia, and North, Central and South America.  Since UMAP’s founding in 1991, membership across the region has grown steadily. UMAP strives to facilitate greater understanding of member countries’ cultures, economies, and societies through collaborative partnerships and increased exchange activities.  

In 2021, UMAP celebrated our 30th anniversary.  See how we’ve grown!

Message from the Chairperson

Message from the
Secretary General

Thank you for your interest in UMAP. UMAP is an innovative organization that facilitates student mobility in the Asia-Pacific region.

It is with great honour that Vancouver Community College (VCC) in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, assumes the role of UMAP International Secretariat for a five-year term (2021-2025) and we are excited to build upon successes completed to date. 

We look forward to continuing the great work of the UMAP IS, especially during the turbulent times we have experienced the past year as a result of COVID-19. We also look forward to expanding membership countries and participating institutions, building upon the UMAP Student Connection Online (USCO) system, and UMAP-COIL programs.  

With the generous support of Global Affairs Canada, we will be implementing a new scholarship program during our tenure that will support more higher education students, particularly those who do not traditionally engage in student mobility programs.

We would like to recognize the representatives from Thailand, in particular, Dr. Sumate Yamnoon for serving as UMAP Chairperson from 2019-2020, and thank the representatives from Toyo University for leading the UMAP IS with great rigor, enthusiasm, and integrity. Thank you for your tireless dedication, passion, and mission to building the UMAP consortium. Your work has brought the consortium to a new level of organization, administration, and growth. 

We would also like to welcome the incoming UMAP Board leaders and Chairperson, Dr. J. Prospero E. De Vera III, DPA, incoming UMAP IS Chairperson, Commission on Higher Education, and ATTY Lily Frieda M. Milla, OIC Deputy Executive Director, Commission on Higher Education, National Secretariat for the Philippines.

We look forward to our term as UMAP IS where we can learn together in this new world environment for higher education, and build mobility programs with growing emphasis on sustainable development, equity, diversity and inclusion, and intercultural collaboration.  

Ajay Patel
Secretary General of UMAP International Secretariat
President, Vancouver Community College

Organization of UMAP

The UMAP Board consists of representatives of each member country/territory.  The board provides guidance and oversight of the policies and programs of the organization and can appoint committees or task forces to work on special projects or priority topics. The UMAP International Secretariat is responsible for the management and administration of the day-to-day operations of UMAP and serves as the liaison for the member secretariats. Each member country/territory sets up a National Secretariat to be the primary point of contact in its country/territory and to be responsible for the promotion and development of the UMAP Exchange Programs. 

 

UMAP National Secretariats

At the heart of UMAP’s operations are the National Secretariats, which represent the higher education institutions from their respective countries or territories. The National Secretariat acts as the main point of contact for member institutions in a country, coordinating the payment of annual membership fees, vetting and nominating all eligible members, and promoting UMAP’s programs. The role is critical, ensuring that member institutions are engaged and well-represented within UMAP’s framework.  To serve as a National Secretariat, an institution must be a UMAP member, must submit a proposal with relevant documentation, and must be approved by the UMAP Board.

The Proposal to serve as a National Secretariat must include a letter from an official representative of the institution, outlining why the institution is interested in the role and describing how they will be able to represent all types of institutions in their country/territory.  They must submit a copy of documentation from the government confirming that the institution is recognized.  Finally, they must submit documentation from the government confirming that the institution is accredited.  All documents must be submitted to the UMAP International Secretariat, who will review them and then present them at the next scheduled UMAP Board meeting.

Australia: Currently Inactive

Bangladesh: Currently Inactive

Brunei: Universiti Brunei Darussalam

Dr. Mohammad Khairul Zarifi bin Haji Awang Masri

 Position: Deputy Director of Global Relations 2, Office of Assistant Vice-Chancellor (Global Affairs), Universiti Brunei Darussalam
 Email: zarifi.masri@ubd.edu.bn
 Address: Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Jalan Tungku Link Gadong, Brunei Darussalam BE1410

Cambodia: Royal University of Phnom Penh

Ms. Ham Kakada

 Position: Director, International Relations Office
 Email: iroffice@rupp.edu.kh
 Address: Russian FederationBlvd, Tuolkork, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
 Tel: +855 17 890 434
 Website: www.rupp.edu.kh

Canada: The BC Council for International Education

Dr. Randall Martin

 Position: Executive Director
 Email: umap@bccie.bc.ca
 Address: Suite 603 – 409 Granville Street Vancouver, British Columbia V6C 1T2 Canada
Ms. Kate Zhang
Position: Manager, Market Support and Partnership Development
                   Email:  umap@bccie.bc.ca

Chile: Universidad Católica del Norte

Mg. Karol Trautmann Thomas

 Position: Director of International Relations
 Email: dri@ucn.cl
 Address: Av. Libertador B. O’Higgins 292, Of. 22 Santiago de Chile
 Tel: +56975390640

China: Sias University

Mr. Julian Yue

 Position: Director of Office of International Relations
 Email: junliangyue@hotmail.com, yuejunliang@sias.edu.cn
 Address: 168 Renmin Road, Xinzheng, Henan, 451150

Colombia:

Ms.  Maria Isabella Valderrama Luna, primary contact
 Position: Executive Secretary, Colombian Network for the Internationalization of Higher Education (RCI) – ASCUN network
 Email: rci-se@ascun.org.co
Mr. Camilo Iván Puerto López
 Position: Technical Secretary, Colombia Challenge Your Knowledge (CCYK)
Luisa Fernanda Villamizar Rodríguez
 Position:  International Relations Coordinator, Colombian Association of Universities (ASCUN)

India: Currently inactive

Indonesia: Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Maria Anityasari

 Position: Director of ITS Global Engagement
 Email: international@its.ac.id
 Address: ITS Campus Sukolilo, Surabaya, Indonesia 60111
 Tel: +62-32-5923411
Ms. Nastiti Primadyastuti, M.Pd.

 Position: Senior Staff for Partnership
 Email: international@its.ac.id
 Tel: +62-31-5923411

Japan: UMAP Japan National Committee

 Position: Student Exchange Programs Planning Division, Student Exchange Department, Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO)
 Email: umap@jasso.go.jp
 Address: c/o Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO) Student Exchange Programs Planning Division, Student Exchange Department 2-2-1 Aomi, Koto-ku, Tokyo 135-8630, Japan
 Tel: +81-3-5520-6012

Kazakhstan: Karaganda Medical University

Mr. Rakhat Aman
 Position: Specialist, International Cooperation Department
 Email: aman.r@qmu.kz
 Address: Gogol Street, 40, Karaganda, 10000, Republic of Kazakhstan

Korea: Currently Inactive

Kyrgyz Republic:  Currently Inactive

Laos: National University of Laos

Mr. Phouvong Phimmakong

 Position: Director, Office of International Relations
 Email: phouvong@nuol.edu.la
Website:  www.nuol.edu.la

Macau: University of Macau

Prof. Chunming Wang

Position: Director of Global Affairs, University of Macau

Email: cmwang@um.edu.mo; gao.enquiry@um.edu.mo

Address: Room G018, Ground Floor, Administration Building, N6, Avenida da Universidade, Taipa, Macau, China

Tel: (853) 8822 8010

Website: http://www.um.edu.mo/

Malaysia:  Universiti Kabangsaan Malaysia (UKM)

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Akmal Sabarudin
 Position: Director, International Relations Centre (UKM Global)
 Address: Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia  
Ms. Phoon Li Juan Roovasini
 Position: Partnerships, International Relations Centre (UKM Global), UKM Centre (UKM Global), UKM

Mexico: Universidad de Colima

Ms. Ana Cecilia Garcia Valencia

 Position: Head of International Affairs and Academic Cooperation Office, Universidad de Colima
 Email: cecygarcia@ucol.mx
 Address: Avenida Universidad 333, Col. Las Víboras, C.P. 28040. Colima, Col., México

Mongolia: Mongolian National Council for Education Accreditation (MNCEA)

Basbayar Batmunkh
 Position: Senior Liaison Officer for Research and Development
 Tel: +976 7010-9391 

Peru:  Universidad Tecnologica del Peru (UTP)

Ms.Mariella Cantoni 

 Position: Chief, International Office
 Email: mcantoni@utp.edu.pe

Philippines: Commission on Higher Education (CHED)

Ms. Lily Freida M. Milla

 Position: Director III, International Affairs Staff, CHED
 Email: lily.freida@gmail.com, ias@ched.gov.ph
 Address: C.P. Garcia Avenue 2/F, CHED HEDC Building, 1100 Quezon City, Philippines

Taiwan: Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Vancouver

Mr. Chun-Chang CHU

 Position: Director, Education Division
 Email: vancouver@mail.moe.gov.tw
 Tel: 1-604-689-4111
 Website:  https://www.taiwanembassy.org/cayvr_en/

Thailand: Office of the Permanent Secretary for Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation

Mr. Saran Vajraphai

 Position: Acting Head of Global Human Capital Development Group
 Tel: +66-2610-5400

USA: Currently Inactive

 

Vietnam: Vietnam National University, Hanoi (VNU)

Assoc. Prof. Le Tuan Anh

 Position: Director of the Cooperation and Development Department
 Address: 144 Xuan Thuy Street, Cau Giay District, Hanoi, Vietnam