PENANG, 7 December 2016 – Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) through the Knowledge Transfer Programme (KTP) is sharing its expertise in various fields, especially in science with Gandhigram Rural Institute - Deemed University (GRI-DU), India.

“This cooperation is a follow-up to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed previously between USM through KTP with GRI-DU,” said the KTP Chairperson, Professor Dato’ Dr. Omar Osman.

“Both the KTP and GRI-DU has a similar mission, which is to implement projects that would be impactful and offer added values to the local communities and raising their quality of life,” he added in his speech to welcome the delegates from GRI-DU, comprising of six lecturers from various disciplines.

According to a lecturer from GRI-DU, Dr R. Kumuthakalavalli, GRI-DU is among the 14 institutions developed to assist the communities in rural India to obtain higher education.

“GRI was recognised as Deemed University (DU) in 1976 and until now, GRI-DU already has 7 faculties, 22 sections and 126 academic programmes, including programmes which are unique to rural settings such as Rural Industries Management, Rural Development and Micro-Level Planning,” he said, having an expertise on Oyster Mushrooms.

The educational tour of the GRI-DU delegation to USM involves a knowledge-sharing session with lecturers and students of the USM School of Biological Sciences, USM School of Industrial Technology and USM School of Physics, as well as visits to KTP projects such as the ‘Vermicompost Farm’ in Yan, Kedah, ‘Oyster Farm’ in Merbok, Kedah and ‘Kelulut’ (meliponini/stingless bee) Farm in Kubu Gajah, Perak.

The group was then taken to the Rooftop Wild Garden at the School of Industrial Technology, which has a section called the ‘Green Corner’ with a space for wetland, ‘organic paddy’ and ‘kitchen garden’ as well as an Eco-Garden which has a rooftop ‘Kelulut’ farm.

Also present were the Dean of School of Industrial Technology, Professor Dr. Azhar Mat Easa; Dean of School of Biological Sciences, Professor Dr. Amirul Al-Ashraf Abdullah; and the Director of the USM Knowledge Transfer Centre (KTC), Professor Dr. Haslan Abu Hassan.

Translation: Mazlan Hanafi Basharudin / Photo: Ebrahim Abdul Manan