PENANG, 30 May 2024 - Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) welcomed a courtesy visit today by the Ambassador of Croatia, H.E. Dr. Ivan Velimir Starčević and Dr. Robert Mikac, Assistant Professor from the Faculty of Political Sciences of the University of Zagreb, Croatia.
 
The courtesy visit from the two-member delegation to USM was aimed at forging closer ties between the two universities and to identify other initiatives that could be implemented in the form of academic programmes, research, staff mobility and engagement, cultural and languages, student mobility, and industry and community relations which could be mutually beneficial.
 
Discussions were led by USM Deputy Vice-Chancellor Student Development Affairs and Alumni, Professor Dr. Shaharum Shamsuddin, who is exercising the function of the USM Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dato' Seri Ir. Dr. Abdul Rahman Mohamed.

The discussions began with a brief introduction given by Shaharum, which was then followed by general briefing about USM by the Director, International Mobility and Collaboration Centre (IMCC), Assoc. Prof. Dr. Muhizam Mustafa.

Then every member of the USM management who were present shared their information and plans regarding possible connections that could be established with the visiting party.

H.E. Dr. Ivan Velimir then proceeded to highlight aspects of Croatia that would be ideal in relation to establishing ties in various forms.

Currently there are 2 unicorn companies from Croatia which are known worldwide, Infobip and Rimac. The former is a global company involved in cloud communications, while the latter produces electric sports cars. Infobip has recently made Malaysia its Asia-Pacific hub.

Ivan also extended a general invitation to visit Croatia, which has one of the highest GDP among the European countries. Croatia also has a tourist-local population ratio of 5:1.

Dr Robert from the University of Zagreb next presented some information regarding academics.

He firstly thanked Deputy Director, IMCC, Dr. Syaheerah Lebai Lutfi for her visit to Croatia previously.

Today’s visit was actually a return visit for both Ivan and Robert to Malaysia.

Robert touched on matters regarding support from the Embassy, a brief explanation of the university, his own experience in academics, the plan by the university to hold a Summer School this coming October and his own research concerning Southeast Asia.

At present, USM has ties with the Catholic University of Croatia in the form of a MoA which recently came into effect.

Apart form that, there is no significant presence of Croatian student or staff at USM.
 
Also present were USM Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academic and International, Professor Dato' Gs. Dr. Narimah Samat; USM Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research and Innovation, Professor Dr. Habibah A Wahab; Dean of Institute of Postgraduate Studies (IPS), Professor Dr. Azlan Abdul Aziz; Dean, School of Aerospace Engineering, Professor Dr. Farzad Ismail; Dean, School of Social Sciences, Assoc. Professor Dr. Mohamad Shaharudin Samsurijan; Senior Lecturer, School of Social Sciences, Dr. Abdul Rais Abdul Latiff; Assistant Registrar, IMCC, Clarene Tan Chern Chieh; and Foreign Language Section Chairperson, School of Languages, Literacies and Translation, Roni Kae Mery Pranchis; along with other key USM officials.

Text: Mazlan Hanafi Basharudin/Photo: Ebrahim Abdul Manan