KUALA LUMPUR; Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, in collaboration with the International Science, Technology and Innovation Centre for South-South Cooperation under the Auspices of UNESCO (ISTIC), the National Commision of UNESCO (NatCom) Malaysia and Ministry of Education Malaysia (MoE) contributed an International Workshop of UNESCO Natural Sciences related Centres and Chairs in Asia and the Pacific from 26 to 27 May 2015 at Hotel Istana Kuala Lumpur.
This workshop includes presentation of UNESCO Natural Sciences Regional Support Strategy 2014-2015, Malaysia Higher Education Blueprint, Post 2015 Development Agenda in Science, Technology and innovation. Discussion was also done on Developing a UNESCO Natural Science Family Strategic Plan for Asia and the Pacific and Scoping UNESCO Chairs and Category 2 Centre in Malaysia.
The workshop sessions was attended by 20 delegates from 9 countries (China, Iran, Nigeria, Indonesia, Kenya, India, Japan, Sudan and Uzbekistan) and 40 participants from Malaysian Centre of Excellence. UTM delegate head by Prof. Dr. Ahmad Fauzi Ismail, Deputy Vice Chancellor of Research and Innovation was also present during Opening Session with Hon. Dato Ir Lee Yee Cheong, Chairman ISTIC Governing Board, Prof. Mohamed H.A. Hassan, Chairman Council of the United Nations University (UNU), Prof. Dr. Shahbaz Khan, Officer in Charge UNESCO Office of Jakarta and Mr. Mohd Khairul Adib Abdul Rahman, Secretary Genera; of the Malaysian National Commission for UNESCO.
In his speech during Welcoming Dinner, UTM Vice Chancellor Datuk Prof. Ir. Dr. Wahid Omar believe that through this engagement with UNESCO will lead to further collaboration, knowledge exchange and developing sustainable research between Malaysia and Centres and Chairs in Asia and the Pacific.
The UNESCO-UTM-ISTIC Regional Workshop even though only for 2 days, it was very successful with the participation of eminent engineers and natural sciences experts from Asia-Pacific, Africa and Europe. They discussed on developing a strong regional science network to promote interaction, knowledge sharing and joint activities.
UNESCO Assistant Director General concluded the workshop for Natural Sciences, Mdm. Falvia Schlegel. The closing session was honored by the presence of the Minister of Education II Malaysia, Honorable Dato’ Seri Idris Jusoh; to whom the recommendations and findings were handed by the Chairman of the Governing Board of ISTIC, Dato. Ir Lee Yee Cheong.
