PENANG, 29 May 2015 - An international cooperation between Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) and Toyohashi University of Technology (TUT) Japan would provide more capacity in enhancing existing collaborations while exploring new programmes.

The Vice-Chancellor of USM, Professor Dato’ Dr. Omar Osman said, USM and TUT would widen the scope of the various cooperation in academic programmes and research, especially in the areas of Material Sciences and Electronics Engineering.

He said, USM too plans to collaborate with TUT in research activities which would produce USM academic staff graduating from TUT, especially in the areas of Electrical and Electronics Engineering.

“USM is committed to giving its fullest cooperation to the USM-TUT Collaborative Centre to be developed at the USM campus by enhancing certain programmes including the internationalisation of TUT, to be funded by the Government of Japan.”

“We are also supportive of the efforts by TUT via the Top Global University programme that was approved by the Government of Japan, which would allow more lecturers and staff of TUT to work together with USM academic staff in teaching and research collaborations,’’ he said.

He stated this when met to share on the outcome of his recent trip to Japan where he led a USM delegation to attend the 7^th TUT-USM Consultative Committee Meeting and several working visits to various universities there.

Omar also said, USM and TUT would finalise the details on a cooperative study programme in at least two initial areas, namely Science and Neuro-Engineering, and Disaster Management and Engineering.

“Details on the programme are being worked out and it is expected to be offered at the Master’s level soon.

“TUT has also agreed to forward the proposal to the Ministry concerned in Japan after the framework on the areas having potential for joint or double degree programmes is solidified,’’ he said.

Omar added, USM would continue to pursue on-going efforts in academic collaborations including to boost students and staff exchange programmes, by exploring opportunities to implement joint or double degree programmes in specific fields of study at the Master’s and Doctoral levels.

“We also offer TUT the opportunity and assistance of raising the teaching abilities of the lecturers from TUT, for them to teach in English for the undergraduate programmes at TUT.

“This is consistent with the framework of TUT, which is to offer its undergraduate courses as well as the teaching and learning process to be done in English,’’ said the USM Vice-Chancellor further. - Translation: Mazlan Hanafi Basharudin/Text: Marziana Mohamed Alias