Universiti Teknologi Malaysia’s (UTM) Vice-Chancellor, Ir Dr Wahid Omar has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT), Cape Town, South Africa. CPUT was represented by its Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Prins Nevhutalu. Also present at the signing ceremony were Prof. Ir. Dr Mohd Azraai Kassim and Prof Dr Nordin Yahaya of UTM.
The MoU promotes opportunities of collaboration in the area of staff and student development. CPUT will be sending their staff to pursue Master’s and doctoral degrees at the Faculty of Petroleum and Renewable Energy Engineering (FPREE), UTM.
CPUT is also interested in appointing UTM experts as external supervisors for CPUT Master’s students. The implementation could either take the form of UTM staff going to CPUT through the staff mobility programme, or CPUT Master’s students coming to UTM under the student exchange programme.
The UTM delegation also visited Stellenbosch University (SU), Capetown, South Africa where they were warmly welcomed by Prof. TE Cloete, SU’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation).
One of the topics discussed in the meeting was on the possibility of UTM and SU holding a joint research workshop on Advanced Membrane Technology, Wireless Communication and Water. Another was on the possibility of having a student exchange programme. This could involve SU sending students to UTM for a Summer School programme, and UTM sending students to take part in an international student forum hosted by SU.
While in South Africa, the UTM delegation also took the opportunity to attend the 7th QS-World Class Conference held in Johannesburg, with participants comprising more than 40 university leaders from 24 countries around the world.