Universiti Teknologi Malaysia re-establishes connection with University of Otago through an MoU

Farhana Abu Bakar

UTM Vice Chancellor, Prof. Datuk Ts. Dr. Ahmad Fauzi bin Ismail and Acting Vice Chancellor of University of Otago, Prof. Helen Nicholson at the MoU virtual signing ceremony, held via Zoom hosted by the University of Otago.

A connection between Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) and the University of Otago, New Zealand is being revived. The two universities had a memorandum of understanding between 1995 and 2000 which has been re-established with a new memorandum of understanding signed on the 26^th July 2021.

The MoU was signed by UTM Vice Chancellor, Prof. Datuk Ts. Dr. Ahmad Fauzi bin Ismail and Acting Vice Chancellor of University of Otago, Prof. Helen Nicholson at the virtual signing ceremony, held via Zoom hosted by the University of Otago.

This MoU was proposed by Dr. Farhana Binti Abu Bakar as a result of her research collaboration and academic activities with Higher Education Development Centre (HEDC), University of Otago. Now working as a senior lecturer at Language Academy, Faculty Social Sciences and Humanities (FSSH) UTM, Dr Farhana as an alumnus of HEDC, University of Otago still maintain a good rapport with HEDC and has done many academic activities with HEDC lecturers such as Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vijay Kumar Mallan and Assoc. Prof. Dr Ben Daniel .

At the signing ceremony, Prof. Datuk Ts. Dr. Ahmad Fauzi bin Ismail mentioned that “I am excited in the coming months and years to see what we can do together”. Prof. Helen Nicholson shared the same excitement as she said “I look forward to renewing our relationship with the Universiti Teknologi Malaysia and seeing what it brings to both organisations.”

University of Otago, which is the first and oldest university in New Zealand, is ranked in the top 1% of universities in the world. It has been awarded 5 stars for teaching and research and is known as one of the most beautiful universities in the world. It is expected that this MoU will benefit and give more opportunities for UTM and University of Otago to work together to enhance research, academic programmes, postdoctoral opportunities especially in the area of social sciences and humanities.

A special thank you to University of Otago for hosting the MoU signing ceremony and to all UTM staff who have contributed to making sure this event is a success.