Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) is expanding its international linkages to Russia. This is one of UTM’s strategic initiatives which aims to create wide and extensive international academic and research collaborations with strategic partners across the globe, resulting in meaningful outcomes.
During a recent visit to Russia, Prof. Ir. Dr. Mohd. Azraai bin Kassim (Deputy Vive-Chancellor, Research and Innovation) together with Prof. Dr. Nordin bin Yahaya (Senior Director, UTM International) established links with two renowned Russian Universities, namelyKazan Federal University (KFU) and Ural Federal University (UrFU).
UTM and KFU will jointly organise several research collaboration workshops in four areas: Big Data & Computational Sciences, Automotive & Mechanical Engineering, New & Applied Materials, and Biomedicine & Genetic Engineering.
Kazan Federal University is the second oldest university in Russia and is ranked among the top 10 institutions of higher education in Russia. KFU has over 47,000 students enrolled in 180 bachelor degree programmes and 120 postgraduate programmes. The founder of the Soviet state, Vladimir Lenin and the world acclaimed author, Leo Tolstoy were among prominent figures who studied at KFU.
KFU employs more than 5 thousand faculty members, including world-famous scholars comprising members of science academies, professors, state prize winners, and leading scientists. It has also produced 7 Nobel Laureates in Physics. KFU is one of 9 universities in Russia with a ‘federal’ status that enables it to get additional funding from the federal government. In 2010, the University secured funding from the Russian government amounting to RM500 million.
The Russia visit also saw UTM forming ties with Ural Federal University (UrFU). The partnership takes the form of a research collaboration with Prof Sviatoslav Timashev, a Nobel Laureate and the Director of Russian Academy of Sciences , who is an internationally recognised expert in Oil and Gas Pipeline, and Safety Engineering. UTM and UrFU will also jointly organise research workshops in Mathematics, Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology which are to be held in both Ekaterinburg, Russia and UTM, Malaysia.
UrFU is ranked among 550 top world universities according to QS World University and is on the list of 15 Russian universities that won in a competitive selection for the right to receive special subsidy targeted at enhancing the global competitiveness of the university and increasing its positions in the international rankings.
The UTM delegation also took the opportunity to visit Kazan Islamic University and Kazan University of Architecture and Engineering where they had discussions on collaboration with the respective universities’ Rectors and senior officials.
Prof. Ir. Dr. Mohd. Azraai and Prof. Dr. Nordin also met up with Kazan’s Deputy Minister of Education and Science, Dr Andrey I. Pominov.