TANJONG MALIM, PERAK, 5 February 2025 – Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) has further strengthened its academic collaboration with higher education institutions in Uzbekistan by signing three Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with Tashkent Agrarian University, Uzbekistan State World Languages University, and Tashkent State Transport University, yesterday.

These agreements were signed by the USM Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dato’ Seri Ir. Dr. Abdul Rahman Mohamed, alongside his counterparts from the three universities, marking a long-term commitment to strengthen academic ties between Malaysia and Uzbekistan.

The scope of the Memorandums of Understanding includes:

1. Research and academic collaboration in fields relevant to each university;
2. Postgraduate studies cooperation between the two countries;
3. Exchange of lecturers, researchers, and students for research, lectures, and academic discussions;
4. Organizing international conferences, seminars, workshops, research, and publications in relevant academic fields;
5. Exchange of academic publications to enrich the scholarly resources of both institutions; and
6. Other academic relations and strategic collaborations to be identified and agreed upon from time to time.

With these agreements, USM now has nine active MoUs with the following higher education institutions in Uzbekistan:

1. Centre for Higher Education Development Research under the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovations Republic of Uzbekistan
2. Oxus University
3. Tashkent International University of Education
4. Bukhara State Medical Institute
5. Bukhara Avicenna Texnikumi
6. Fergana State University
7. Tashkent Agrarian University
8. Uzbekistan State World Languages University
9. Tashkent State Transport University

This strategic cooperation also showed that USM is committed in strengthening its position as an internationally recognised educational institution that opens up opportunities for global cooperation with renowned educational institutions worldwide.

The three MoUs were among several MoUs, Letters of Agreement (LoAs) and Letters of Intent (LoIs) formalised at the first Malaysia-Uzbekistan Higher Education Forum 2025 organised and hosted by Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI), held at the Chancellor’s Hall, Sultan Azlan Shah Campus, Proton City, here.

With the theme "Uzbekistan-Malaysia: Opportunities and Initiatives for Achieving Sustainable Development Goals in Higher Education", this forum focused on achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4, which is to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education for all.

It represents a significant milestone in bilateral relations between the two countries, especially through various planned academic and research initiatives.

The forum was officiated by the Malaysian Minister of Higher Education, Dato' Seri Diraja Dr. Zambry Abd Kadir, along with the Uzbek Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, H.E. Konratbay Sharipov.

Attended by Vice-Chancellors of local and private universities as well as 28 Rectors from leading Uzbekistan universities, this forum reflects the high commitment of both countries to strengthen cross-border academic and research networks.

The forum also witnessed the establishment of the Malaysia-Uzbekistan Higher Education Consortium (MUHEC) led by UPSI, serving as a strategic platform to strengthen academic mobility, knowledge exchange, joint research, and sharing of best practices in higher education.

USM is optimistic that this academic network will expand international opportunities, thereby enhancing the competitiveness of institutions in the global higher education arena.

Text: Tan Ewe Hoe