USM, PENANG, 17 May 2016 – Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) today received a courtesy visit from Muhammadiyah University of Metro (UMMETRO), Lampung, Indonesia’s delegation led by its Rector, Professor Dr. Karwono Pawiroq, to enhance cooperation in areas of education, research and student exchange.

USM, represented by the Director of International Mobility and Career Centre (IMCC), Dr. Muhizam Mustafa warmly welcomed the delegation of 12 people, with their intention of establishing relations and having cooperation in various areas of strength.

"I hoped that through this visit, relations between the two countries can be improved and more cooperation in areas of education and research can be explored in the future," said Muhizam.

In addition, Muhizam mentioned on the readiness of USM to sign memorandums of agreement for collaborations with regard to various aspects, more specifically in areas of lifelong learning for the lecturers of UMMETRO via offshore programmes.

Meanwhile, Karwono Pawiroq hoped that the visit to USM would facilitate the sharing of knowledge and the establishing of relations between UMMETRO and USM in various areas.

“Therefore, we hoped that with this visit would lead to educational relations being established through an offshore programme at the Master’s and Doctoral levels at UMMETRO,” he said further.

UMMETRO is a public institution of higher learning (IPTA) in Indonesia which was established in 1966, focusing on the field of education with the merging of four Teaching Institutes and has been expanding with the setting up of a number of faculties such as the Faculty of Management, Law, Computer Science and Islamic Studies at the Diploma, Undergraduate, and Postgraduate levels.

Also present at the ceremony were the Dean, School of Languages, Literacies and Translation, Professor Dr. Tengku Sepora Tengku Mahadi; and Dean, School of Distance Education (PPPJJ), Associate Professor Dr. Mustafa Fadzil Farid Wajidi.

Translation: Mazlan Hanafi Basharudin

Text: Syuhada Abd Aziz / Photo: Alya Hazwani binti Md. Hafidz