USM, PENANG, 15 June 2016 - Since the first official contact between Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) and University of Lorraine (UoL) in 1999 and the first MoU signed in 2002, USM has established a close relationship with UoL through many collaborative endeavours.

USM Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dato' Dr. Omar Osman said: “We treasure the value of friendship and will continue to work closely with UoL in areas that both institutions have mutually identified, as what we have done with all our international partner universities.”

“The collaborations started with activities initiated by the School of Chemical Sciences through its Biocrystallography Lab such as the exchange of researchers, students attachment overseas, joint Master supervisions, teaching of undergraduate/postgraduate courses and several workshops.

“As a result of these activities, the scope of research has broadened involving other schools as well, such as the School of Biological Sciences, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Physics, Distance Education, Industrial Technology, Materials and Mineral Resources Engineering and Chemical Engineering,” said Omar during the Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) signing ceremony between both universities here yesterday.

Omar added that, a number of milestone achievements have been attained thus far, namely securing joint grants, producing over 40 publications co-authored by researchers from both institutions and setting up of research laboratories for Biocrystallography and Structural Bioinformatics at USM.

“Besides that, USM students have graduated in the AMASE Erusmus Mandus (Master) and six students have graduated, one on-going and one to commence in September 2016 for the PhD Co-Tutelle programmes.

“Several workshops and three USM-UoL colloquiums have been held in USM since then, with the 4^th colloquium scheduled to take place this August also in USM," added Omar.

Meanwhile, the Vice-President for Partnerships and International Affairs UoL Prof. Dr. Karl Tombre said, with this MoA, UoL hoped that the collaborations and commitment between both universities will be even stronger, and would have long term benefits to both parties.

"This also marks a new milestone for extended collaboration between both universities, with more exchange of ideas and knowledge sharing activities that will enhance networking," he said.

He added that he was happy with the outcome of the earlier meeting with the deans and professors of several academic schools where several key fields have been identified that they would like to pursue further especially the fields that UoL is strong in.

“Similar to USM, UoL is also striving for excellence in the pursuit of academic and research collaborations, and they have selected several renowned institutions as partners with USM being one of them,” said Tombre.

Omar and Tombre signed the MoA document on behalf of USM and UoL respectively, witnessed by the Dean, School of Chemical Sciences USM Prof. Dr. Afidah Abdul Rahim and the Head of Strategic International Partnerships UL Professor Dr. Jean-Louis Morel.

Among those present were the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation) Prof. Dato' Dr. Muhamad Jantan, Assistant Vice-Chancellor (Institutional Excellence) Prof. Dr. Wan Ahmad Kamil Che Mahmood, Director of International Office UoL Nathalie Fick, USM Bursar Dr. Rohayati Md Isa, as well as staff and students from the School of Chemical Sciences.

Text: Hafiz Meah Ghouse Meah / Editing: Tan Ewe Hoe

Photo: Mohd Fairus Md. Isa