JOHOR BAHRU, 28 May – A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and Agreement on Cooperative Graduate Program was forged between Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) and the National Institute of Material Science (NIMS), Japan, signalling the start of a strategic academic alliance.

This is the first MoU initiated by the Malaysian – Japan International Institute of Technology (MJIIT) in fostering collaboration with a research institution in Japan.

UTM was represented by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ir. Dr. Wahid Omar while NIMS was represented by its President, Prof. Dr. Sukekatsu Ushioda.

Prof. Wahid during the press conference said that through the collaboration, more impactful Research and Development activities can be achieved, as expertise and resources can be synergized and optimized.

“This collaboration will benefit both parties especially in the field of Material Science.
Through this memorandum, UTM postgraduate students are given the opportunity to be attached to Japanese universities laboratories for a period of between 3 and 12 months. They may also be jointly supervised by Japanese academic staff,” he said.

“The Agreement of Cooperative Graduate Program in particular will also allow joint graduate programs at doctoral level between institutions, aimed at enhancing and facilitating mobility of students and researchers,” said Prof. Wahid.

Following the signing ceremony, the delegation from NIMS visited the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, the University Industry Research Laboratory and the Ibn Sina Institute for Fundamental Science.
Also present at the signing ceremony were the MJIIT Dean, Prof. Datin Dr. Rubiyah Yusof and Senior Director of UTM International, Prof. Dr. Nordin Yahaya.