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. 

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
  • Website: http://www.ubd.edu.bn

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

Chile: Learn Chile

Ms Lydia Droegemueller

China: Sias University

Mr. Julian Yue

Colombia: ASCUN

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

India: Currently Inactive

Indonesia: Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember

Dr. Unggul Wasiwitono
  • Position: Director of ITS Global Engagement
Ms. Nastiti Primadyastuti, M.Pd.

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
  • Website: http://www.jasso.go.jp/en/index.html

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
  • Website: http://www.kgmu.kz/en

Korea: Currently Inactive

Kyrgyz Republic:  Currently Inactive

Laos: National University of Laos

Mr. Phouvong Phimmakong

Macau: University of Macau

Prof. Chunming Wang

Malaysia:  Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM)

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Akmal Sabarudin

  • Position: Director, International Relations Centre (UKM Global)
  • Email: pghpha@ukm.edu.my

Mr Nur Haiqal Rawlins Una Abdullah

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
  • Website: http://www.ucol.mx

Mongolia: Mongolian National Council for Education Accreditation (MNCEA)

Ms Basbayar Batmunkh

Peru:  Universidad Tecnologica del Peru (UTP)

Ms.Mariella Cantoni

Philippines: Commission on Higher Education (CHED)

Ms. Lily Freida M. Milla

  • Position: Director III, International Affairs Staff, CHED
  • Email: ias@ched.gov.ph
  • Address: C.P. Garcia Avenue 2/F, CHED HEDC Building, 1100 Quezon City, Philippines
  • Website: http://www.ched.gov.ph/

Taiwan: Foundation for International Cooperation in Higher Education of Taiwan (FICHET)

Prof. Dr. Tzu-Bin Lin

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

Mr. Saran Vajraphai

USA: Currently Inactive

Vietnam: Vietnam National University, Hanoi (VNU)

Assoc. Prof. Le Tuan Anh

  • Position: Director of the Cooperation and Development Department
  • Email: lta@vnu.edu.vn
  • Address: 144 Xuan Thuy Street, Cau Giay District, Hanoi, Vietnam
  • Website: http://vnu.edu.vn/eng/