JOHOR BAHRU, 22 July 2024 – The partnership between Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) and Universitas Brawijaya (UB) demonstrates a significant step towards a stronger research and educational landscape for both institutions. Ms. Viky Vidayanti’s visit extended beyond her editorial role. She brought an idea from her Biology department head to propose matching programs from both universities’ Biosciences departments to initiate student exchange programs and summer schools, specifically at the undergraduate level. This initiative aligns with UTM’s globalization efforts and promotes the concept of borderless education.

Dr. Firdaus Abdul Wahab, Assistant Dean (External and Global Engagement) at UTM’s Faculty of Science, discussed the faculty’s academic structure with UB representatives. This sets the stage for a future visit from UB for curriculum benchmarking in September, facilitating student and faculty exchange programs in teaching and learning. The collaborative efforts between the two universities are expected to lead to the development of joint research projects. Researchers from UTM’s Biosciences department, particularly those with a deep interest in Indonesia’s rich biodiversity, stand to benefit from collaborations with UB researchers. The future holds promise for joint grant proposals, fostering collaborative research activities.

Building Bridges for the Future: Professor Fahrul Huyop hosted a luncheon that gathered coordinators of the academic program within the Biosciences department and the head of the research group. The purpose was to discuss curriculum improvements for student exchange and explore potential research collaborations in the near future.