Prepared by : Dr Lee Yoke Lai
JOHOR BAHRU, 20 Apr. – A Strategic collaboration was established today between Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) and Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) from Indonesia when both parties virtually signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) through Zoom platform today.
The MoU was signed by UTM Vice Chancellor, Prof. Datuk Ts Dr Ahmad Fauzi Ismail on behalf of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia and witnessed by Prof. Sr. Dr. Hishamuddin Mohd Ali, Dean of Faculty of Built Environment and Surveying (FABU) while UNS was being represented by its Rector, Prof. Dr. Jamal Wiwoho.
Prof. Fauzi in his speech has mentioned that the initiative of this agreement was to mutually encourage both universities to be involved in education and research collaborations.
“Through this collaboration, both universities would encourage and promote co-operation in staff and student development, joint research activities, joint program & seminar.
“This collaboration also will include any other areas of co-operation which is to be mutually agreed upon by both parties,” said Prof. Fauzi.
Elaborating about the collaboration, Prof. Fauzi said that this agreement was discussed virtually on September 30th 2020 between UTM and UNS where both parties have agreed to collaborate in carrying out learning and research activities.
“This agreement was been discussed thoroughly between Dr Lee Yoke Lai and LAr. Prof. Dr. Ismail Said from the Landscape Architecture Department, representing UTM while UNS was represented by Head of Architecture Department, Dr. Ir. Untung Joko Cahyono.
“Following the discussion, UNS has appointed and invited the lecturers from the Landscape Architecture Programme of FABU to participate in the Visiting Professor Joint Programme. Through this inbound programme, the two parties have shared online lecture sessions, design project critique sessions for the Master Programme Studio and research study briefings for post-graduate students and young lecturers of UNS in the field of build environment,” said Prof. Fauzi.
In a cooperative effort, UTM has invited UNS as a co-organizer and speaker for the ‘Online Global Classroom’ (OCG) program, which is a knowledge and cultural sharing session. Both OGC programme has significantly attained greater respond and learning goals.
Also involved in that discussion were Chief Researchers of Urban Rural Design and Conservation (URDC) Laboratory, Dr Eng Kusumaningdyah, Master of Architecture Programme Coordinator, Dr Ars Avi Marlina and Head of Laboratory and Building Science, Dr Yosafat Winarto.
The MoU signing ceremony were also attended by Vice Rectors of UNS, the Respectable Prof. Ahmad Yunus, Prof Bandi, Prof Kuncoro Diharjo and Prof Sajidan and also Pro Vice Chancellor (International) of UTM, Prof. Dr. Mohd Ismid Md Said.
Both parties has begun their collaboration since the first MoU signing in 2016. Since then, numerous academic activities and research alliances have been successfully achieved between these two institutions, specifically in the fields of Engineering and the Built Environment specifically Urban and Regional Planning.
It is hoped that future collaboration between UTM and UNS will achieve the Key Performance Indicators (KPI) set out in the Envision UTM 2025.
