USM, PENANG, 29 March 2017 – Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) has always opened its doors to forge linkages and partnerships with institutions and organisations all over the world, as part of its internationalisation efforts to ensure that the university will always be respected, referred and remain relevant.

USM Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Student Development Affairs & Alumni), Professor Dato' Dr. Adnan Hussein said this during a courtesy visit by 27 delegates of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) and School of Leadership (SOL), Pakistan at the University Conference Hall here today.

"It has to be emphasised here that both institutions have been aiming on facilitating local and regional developments through higher education; thus, we are here today to engage on a long-term collaboration and partnership that would reflect the common interest of our respective institutions," he said.

The proposed idea of collaboration would allow both institutions to:
- work together in specific areas and explore opportunities for development,
- providing support to each other, and
- enhance the synergistic development of higher education in the respective countries.

Adnan added, working together through this collaboration and partnership, USM, HEC and SOL would be able to focus on developing bilateral agreements based on the objectives of:
- Increasing the number of HEC recognised scholars by pursuing their postgraduate education in USM;
- Enhancing future collaborations in the fields of academic, research and culture;
- Conducting various leadership and enhancement programmes; and
- Organising student exchange and mobility programmes with Pakistan.

Adnan also hoped that this event would result in the collaboration between USM and fellow higher education institutions in Pakistan and granting the opportunity of developing as well as obtaining higher education of greater standards in their respective programmes.

Meanwhile, Head of HEC Delegation cum Director General (Academic) Muhammad Raza Chohan said, from this visit, they hope to establish further collaboration with USM on academic, research, training and also exchange of students and staff.

Also present were the Honorary Consul-General of Pakistan in Penang Dato' Haji Abdul Rafique Abdul Karim who chaired the discussion session and the Director of International Mobility & Collaboration Centre (IMCC) Dr. Muhizam Mustafa who presented an overview of USM to the visitors.

Currently there are 116 Pakistani students studying in USM following the postgraduate and undergraduate courses, making them the fifth largest group of international students’ population in the campus.

Text: Hafiz Meah Ghouse Meah