HATYAI, Feb 18—Professor Fahrul Huyop from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) visited the Center of Excellence in Seafood Science and Innovation at Prince of Songkla University (PSU), Hatyai Campus in southern Thailand to discuss potential research and academic collaborations.
The main goal of the visit was to explore opportunities for improved collaboration in biosciences, particularly within the M.Sc. Biotechnology program at UTM. Professor Huyop aimed to expand research opportunities for UTM students, providing them with international exposure and access to specialized expertise.
Established in 1967, PSU is renowned for its aquaculture research and hosts the internationally acclaimed Center of Excellence in Seafood Science and Innovation, led by Professor Dr. Soottawat Benjakul. The center focuses on seafood quality, safety, and the utilization of fish and seaweed for green economy initiatives.
Discussions emphasized promoting collaborative research between UTM and PSU, specifically on seafood innovation. Professor Huyop expressed a desire to allow UTM’s MSc Biotechnology students the flexibility to conduct research at leading centers of excellence throughout Southeast Asia, including PSU, thereby enhancing the program’s branding and expanding project opportunities for students.
“We believe our students should have the chance to take advantage of unique research opportunities beyond UTM and Malaysia,” stated Professor Huyop. “This visit is a crucial step towards building strong institutional linkages across ASEAN, which are essential for effectively implementing ASEAN University Network-Quality Assurance (AUN-QA) standards.”
The visit also sought to build on the existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between UTM and PSU (2017-2022) and explore new partnership avenues in biosciences. Previous collaborations have included exchange visits by UTM students from the Bachelor of Science in Human Resource Development program and the Faculty of Computing.
Professor Huyop highlighted the importance of forming partnerships with top research institutions across Southeast Asia, including those in Indonesia, Singapore, the Philippines, and Thailand, to enhance UTM’s research capabilities and international profile. He referred to the “Ranking Web of World Research Centers” by the Cybermetrics Lab (CSIC, Spain) as a valuable resource for identifying leading research hubs.
This visit underscores UTM’s commitment to promoting its M.Sc. Biotechnology program and establishing meaningful partnerships within the ASEAN region, ultimately providing students with unparalleled research and academic experiences.