BALI, Sept 18 – Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), represented by Prof. Dr. Fahrul Zaman Huyop from the Faculty of Science, officially delivered the signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to Udayana University (UNUD). The handover ceremony, held at the Faculty of Agricultural Technology, marked another milestone in the long-standing partnership between both institutions since 2017.
Prof. Fahrul was accompanied by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Roswanira Ab Wahab, also from the Faculty of Science. The MoU was received by Prof. Dr. Ir. I Made Anom Sutrisna Wijaya, Dean of the Faculty of Agricultural Technology, UNUD, and witnessed by faculty members including Dr. I.B.W. Gunam, as well as representatives from the Rektorat, particularly the Office of the Vice Rector for Planning, Collaboration, and Information.
In his remarks, Prof. Dr. Ir. I Made Anom Sutrisna Wijaya emphasized that collaborations should extend beyond research and development, calling for stronger teaching and learning initiatives. He encouraged the development of joint programmes, staff and student exchanges, expertise sharing, and collaborative supervision at the master’s and doctoral levels — areas specifically highlighted in the MoU.
During the visit, Prof. Fahrul also met with Prof. Dr. Ir. R. Nengah Sujaya, Vice Rector for Academic Affairs, accompanied by Dr. I.B.W. Gunam, to discuss past, ongoing, and future initiatives. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to deepening joint research and academic programmes for the benefit of both universities.
As part of the MoU, Prof. Fahrul and Assoc. Prof. Roswanira are co-members of CONNECT 2025 (Collaborative Outreach for International Research Networking), a UNUD-led initiative to achieve World-Class University status. They work closely with Dr. I.B.W. Gunam and Prof. Dr. Ni Made Suaniti from UNUD. Other researchers, including Prof. Dr. Bambang Admadi Harsojuwuno from UNUD and Dr. Ahmad Ilyas Rushdan from UTM’s Faculty of Chemical and Energy Engineering, are also actively engaged in CONNECT projects in engineering.
Prof. Bambang recently visited UTM (6–8 August 2025) to pursue joint research and publications with Dr. Ahmad Ilyas. Beyond the Faculty of Science, UTM’s Faculty of Mechanical Engineering is also collaborating with UNUD through initiatives such as IE Xplore Bali 2025 and the International Community Service Programme, jointly led on 4 August 2025 by Dr. Nurul Rawaida Ain Burhani (UTM) and Dr. Anak Agung Istri Agung Sri Komaladewi (UNUD). These activities underscore the strong commitment of both institutions to strengthening academic ties and expanding international networks.
On 17 September, Prof. Fahrul delivered a guest lecture titled “Integrated Approaches in Nutrigenomics of Southeast Asian Honey for Functional Food Development” at the UNUD Main Library, Bukit Jimbaran Campus. The lecture, part of the Udayana University Senior Fellowship (UNISERF) programme, attracted over 100 participants, including students and academics from various faculties. This fellowship had earlier supported Prof. Fahrul’s three-month research attachment at UNUD in late 2023.
The visit concluded on 18 September 2025 with Prof. Fahrul completing MoU-related activities, research consultations with postgraduate students, and discussions on future collaborations. Both UTM and UNUD reaffirmed their strong partnership and look forward to expanding joint academic, research, and mobility programmes in the years ahead.
