JOHOR BAHRU – Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) through its global prominence strategy has set its sight on developing and maintaining a smart partnership with renowned institutions and universities around the world.
This time around, UTM has renewed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and signed a new Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with Universitas Pertamina (UP), Indonesia, to promote academic exchange between the two universities.
The MoU and MoA signing ceremony was held between UP in Jakarta and UTM in Johor Bahru and Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday, 2nd June 2021 via an online platform, Zoom.
During the signing ceremony, UTM was represented by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Datuk Ts. Dr. Ahmad Fauzi Ismail while UP was represented by the Rector, Prof. Ir. I Gusti Nyoman Wiratmaja Puja. The signing ceremony was also witnessed by the other delegations from UP and UTM.
In view of the effectiveness of the existing MoU as evident through the strong commitment and active involvement of UTM and UP, both universities have agreed to renew the MoU for another five years.
Prof. Datuk Ts. Dr. Ahmad Fauzi Ismail in his notes said that this memorandum which translating the academic and research knowledge initiatives, will bring many benefits to both parties.
The strategic partnership will create the exchange and sharing of knowledge, ideas and insights between UTM and UP academicians, researchers and students in the pursuit of collaborative research and expertise in the field of science, engineering, technology and informatics.
These memorandums provide exchange opportunities for both undergraduate and postgraduate students. UTM and UP have also agreed to institutionalize the Exchange Program and Transnational Education (TNE) for the educational and cultural enrichment of both institutions.
The MoA will mainly involve two entities in UTM, namely Razak Faculty of Technology & Informatics which will offer postgraduate programs under the TNE Model and Faculty of Science that will offer undergraduate students exchange program. These programs will enable students who are working towards a degree at one institution to take classes at the other institution.
UP proposes a collaboration called Fast Track Program while UTM is offering a similar program, better known as the PRISM program. This joint program is recommended for bachelor’s degree students in UP to continue their master’s program in UTM.
With UTM TNE model and the new norm implementation in teaching and learning, it is hoped that students will be provided with the opportunity to study abroad without leaving their home country.