YINCHUAN, CHINA, 3 June 2024 – Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) and Ningxia University (NXU), China, have established a global networking and research collaboration. Both parties agreed to conduct research and development cooperation covering human capital development activities through postgraduate student exchange programs, exchange of academic staff expertise, research support, and research facilities through satellite laboratories, scientific publications, and research collaboration. This collaboration aligns with UTM’s enVision 2025 strategic plan and enVision Moonshot action plan, which aim to establish the university as a globally recognized institution through scholarly excellence.
The cooperation between both parties began in 2018 and continues to strengthen. Based on the record of previous collaboration, this cooperation has had a positive and excellent impact on both parties, resulting in the successful acquisition of the Project 111 grant and the implementation of student exchange programs.
Through this project, Prof. Datuk Ir. Ts. Dr. Ahmad Fauzi Ismail and Associate Professor Dr. Goh Pei Sean from the Advanced Membrane Technology Research Centre (AMTEC) and Faculty of Chemical and Energy Engineering (FKT) have been appointed as international experts by NXU in support of China’s ambitious University Discipline Innovation & Talent Introduction Plan. The effective duration spans from 1 January 2023 until 31 December 2027, with both playing a crucial role in propelling the transformation of Chinese national universities into world-class institutions.
The signing ceremony of this agreement was held at NXU between Professor Dr. Zhike Peng, President of NXU, and Professor Datuk Ir. Ts. Dr. Ahmad Fauzi bin Ismail, Vice Chancellor of UTM. This ceremony was also witnessed by Professor Dr. Xuebin Li, Vice President of NXU; Professor Dr. Yafeng Zhao, Director of the Domestic and Foreign Affairs Office; Professor Dr. Bo Zhang, Executive Dean of the School of Mechanical Engineering; Professor Dr. Wen Ma, Vice Director of the Domestic and Foreign Affairs Office; Associate Professor Dr. Xinhua Gao, Vice Director of the Key Laboratory of High-Efficiency Utilization of Coal and Green Chemical Engineering; Associate Professor Dr. Xiaoxia Jiang, Associate Professor at the School of Mechanical Engineering, NXU; and the UTM delegation led by Associate Professor Dr. Goh Pei Sean, Associate Professor Dr. Kang Hooi Sang, Ts. Dr. Ng Be Cheer, and Ts. Mohd Sohaimi Abdullah.
The collaboration between UTM and NXU exemplifies the spirit of international cooperation and knowledge exchange essential in today’s interconnected global academic landscape. This memorandum of understanding (MoU) will pave the way for mutually beneficial initiatives in research, academic exchange, and joint programs between both parties.
In conjunction with this event, a series of meetings with key faculty members and administrators and a visit to the State Key Laboratory of High-Efficiency Utilization of Coal and Green Chemical Engineering were held to discuss further strategic planning and potential areas of research collaborations, specifically on membrane technology, materials science research, and other fields.
