JAKARTA, 27 July 2013 - Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) signed a bilateral memorandum of understanding with Universiti Mercu Buana (UMB) to strengthen the long-standing cooperation between certain schools in USM and someUMB faculties over the years.

USM Vice-Chancellor Professor Dato’ Dr. Omar Osman, who signed the agreement on behalf of USM said, it isimportant for USM as a APEX university to widen its bilateral ties with as many universities in the world as possibleand not just focus on the big universities alone.
 
He was impressed with UMB, a private university with about 18,000 students, as it is well managed and practicessustainable governance.
 
The agreement covers the exchange of students and academic staff in fields such as Mass Communication, Tourism, Architecture, Economics and Management.
 
It also explores the possibility of mutual recognition of strategic studies to further promote these exchanges. The twouniversities will also look into some of the models and the appropriate methods to provide a basis for closer bilateral relations.
 
Meanwhile, the UMB Deputy Rector of Academic and Student Affairs, Dr. Dana Santoso sees USM as a premierresearch university in Malaysia that can be used as a benchmark as UMB seeks assistance and cooperation in research and other specific areas.
 
Both parties have agreed to hold a bilateral dialogue in December to discuss further details of this collaboration. -Text: Professor Dr. Badaruddin Mohamed/Photo: Hj. Badrol Hisham Mohd Nowani (CETREE)/Translation: Tan Ewe Hoe