DHAKA, BANGLADESH, 17 July 2025 – Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) has taken a landmark step in regional academic cooperation by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the University Grants Commission (UGC) of Bangladesh.

The official signing ceremony took place at UGC headquarters in Dhaka.

The MoU was exchanged in the presence of UGC Chairman, Professor Dr. SMA Faiz; the Malaysian High Commissioner to Bangladesh, His Excellency Mohd Shuhada Othman; and the Strategic Corporate Director of Education Malaysia Global Services (EMGS), Azhar Mohamed.

Representing USM were the Dean of the Institute of Postgraduate Studies (IPS), Professor Dr. Azlan Abdul Aziz, and USM Legal Advisor, Dr. Khairul Anuar Che Azmi.

This strategic partnership aims to:

• Enhance the quality of higher education in both countries;
• Promote academic and research collaboration between Malaysian and Bangladeshi universities;
• Facilitate long-term cooperation under the UGC Scholarship Scheme for University Lecturers.
  
  
  

In addition to USM, four other leading Malaysian research universities—Universiti Malaya (UM), Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM)—also participated in the MoU exchange.

To complement the ceremony, a networking session was held, bringing together representatives from over 40 public and private universities across Bangladesh.

The session served as a dynamic platform to explore potential collaborations in student mobility, joint research projects, and dual academic programmes.

During the opening remarks, H.E. Mohd Shuhada expressed Malaysia’s keen interest in deepening academic ties and welcoming more Bangladeshi students to Malaysian universities.

“Today’s MoU marks a significant step toward expanding access to higher education and fostering an inclusive academic ecosystem in Bangladesh. This partnership envisions co-funded tuition scholarships, student exchange programmes, and collaborative research grants,” he added.

This milestone reflects USM’s continued commitment to building impactful global partnerships and advancing excellence in higher education across Asia and beyond.

Text & Photos: Division of Academic & International, USM's Facebook post/Editing: Tan Ewe Hoe