The MoU was meant to promote, develop and establish cooperation in conducting research, education and training programmes in the following areas:

• exchange of students;
• exchange of faculty members and staff;
• joint academic programmes;
• joint research projects, lectures, symposia and seminar;
• internship of students;
• joint research and development programmes; 
• joint workshops and training programmes;
• exchange of academic publications;
• collaboration in USM Doctoral/Masters/Bachelor Programmes;
• collaboration in offshore programmes and
• any other academic linkages and cooperation that will be mutually identified from time to time.

The MoU was signed through a virtual ceremony, conducted using the Webex video conferencing platform at the USM Chancellory Conference Room (CCR).

Signing on behalf of USM was the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Industry, Community Network and Institutional Sustainability) representing the USM Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dr. Azlan Amran, while on behalf of USTF was its Chancellor, Professor Dr. Ali Abou-Elnour.

Also present to witness the ceremony were USM International Strategic Coordinator, Academic and International Division, Professor Dr. Hazizan Md Akil and USTF Vice-Chancellor (Academic Affairs), Professor Dr. Zeinelabidin Rizk.

Azlan in his welcoming speech gave an overview about USM and recent achievement regarding USM in championing to be among the best sustainability-led universities after being placed at No. 4 in the world, No. 1 in Asia and No. 1 in Malaysia in the recent Times Higher Education (THE-IR) 2023 global sustainability rankings, which measure the contributions made by an institution and its community in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations by 2030.

“I believed this collaboration will aspire and proceed smoothly, fruitfully and will bring beneficial outcomes for both sides and I look forward to the successful implementation of our MoU,” he said.

Meanwhile Ali Abou in his speech said that it is hoped that this MoU will bring opportunities to the students in increasing the demands for education at the Masters and PhD levels.

“It is proud moment to be able to collaborate with USM and I hoped that both parties could learn from each other, as this MoU could serve as a big opportunity to further enhance the global standing of both parties,” he said.

Also present at the ceremony via Webex link were the USM Dean, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Associate Professor Dr. Nurzalina Abdul Karim and principal officers of USTF and USM.

Text: Nur Farrah Ezlin Mohd Suhaimi/Photo: Mohd Fairus Md Isa