DOHA, QATAR, 3 March 2014 - In an effort to enhance its role as a centre for higher education of international standing, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) has taken the initiative to set up a one-stop center in Qatar known as USM@DOHA.

This centre is intended to support the internationalisation agenda of USM in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region which will serve to help promote the programmes offered by USM, particularly in the MENA region.

The establishment of such a centre would also make USM the first institution of higher education in Malaysia to have a permanent representative in the Middle East to offer assistance and provide support.

The launching of USM@DOHA was officiated by the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dato’ Dr. Omar Osman at Doha, Qatar, today. At the event, the university signed a strategic collaboration agreement with an organisation in Qatar which is responsible for managing the USM@DOHA, headed by its Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Tameur Nachef, who is also a USM alumnus.

According to Omar, USM@DOHA will focus on cooperation with USM Centre for Innovation and Productivity in the Public Service (PIPPA) during the early stages in organising training programmes that will be offered to civil servants in Malaysia and countries of the Middle East and North Africa.

“We will begin by offering short courses or consultancy for the management and non-academic staff and the cooperation will then be expanded to the offering of academic and research programmes.

“Furthermore, I strongly believe such collaboration will bring positive outcome to USM in terms of its global positioning and branding as well as promoting USM’s academic programmes even in Arabic language to meet the needs of the people in the Middle East and North Africa region. This will in the long run help to contribute to the development and enhancement of the higher education field in this region,” added Omar.  

During the earlier part of the day, USM Vice-Chancellor led a delegation to visit the Qatar Foundation to explore the possibility of cooperation, particularly in research and academic programmes.

Representing Qatar Foundation at the meeting were the Executive Director of Education, Training and Development, and Research and Development, Dr. Wyatt Roderick Hume; and the Dean of the College of Science, Engineering and Technology, Dr. Mounir Hamdi. Also present at the meeting were the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation), Professor Dr. Muhamad Jantan; Dean of the School of Computer Sciences, Professor Dr. Ahamad Tajudin Khader; and the Director of PIPPA, Dr. Musa Ali. - Translation: Yong Check Yoon