Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) and Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB) have signed a renewal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 26 August 2020 to enhance cooperation between both institutions.
The MoU was signed by both universities through a virtual ceremony conducted on Webex, in part due to restrictions on international travel brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The relationship in the field of education between Indonesia and Malaysia has been going on for a long time when the Republic of Indonesia’s government sent Indonesian teachers to Malaysia for the “Project Malay Culture” during the reign of President Soeharto in the 1970s.
This project effectively improved the diplomatic relation between Indonesia and Malaysia, which was not good during the confrontation period in 1963-1966. The history of sending Indonesian teachers to Malaysia was conducted from 1969 to the end of the 1990s. It should be noted that the cooperation is at the school and the higher education levels.
UTM collaboration with ITB began when UTM was still called Institut Teknologi Kebangsaan (ITK) in the early 1970s and get assisted by scholars from Indonesia, especially ITB. At present, UTM has more than 500 students from Indonesia.
UTM is proud to have the recent renewal of MoU with ITB as its continuous endeavor. The virtual signing ceremony was attended by Prof. Datuk Ir. Dr. Wahid Omar (UTM Vice-Chancellor), Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mohd Ismid Md Said (UTM Pro-Vice-Chancellor – International), Prof. Dr. Hadi Nur (UTM Director of Ibnu Sina Institute for Scientific and Industrial Research), and Prof. Dr. Haslenda Hashim (UTM Chair of Resource Sustainability Research Alliance) on behalf of UTM.
Meanwhile, the presence of Prof. Dr. Reini Djuhraeni Wirahadikusuma (Rector of ITB), Prof. Dr. Taufiq Hidayat (ITB Director of The Directorate of Partnership and International), and Dr. Rino Rakhmata Mukti (ITB Secretary for Research of Institute for Research and Community Services) was on behalf of ITB.
UTM-ITB has always endeavored to do what it takes to ensure the research and education activities are dedicated to helping the students in building the careers of their dreams. We are equal partners in their growth journeys, which will eventually reach the pinnacle of success.
Following the signing ceremony of the MoU renewal, there will be more elaborate discussions and activities conducted by both parties. The Director of Ibnu Sina Institute for Scientific and Industrial Research (ISI-SIR), Prof. Dr. Hadi Nur (director@ibnusina.utm.my) is the person-in-charge for UTM regarding these activities.
Further information will be provided in an update on the https://ibnusina.utm.my/ website.
