USM, PENANG, 3 November 2016 - Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) Vice-Chancellor, Professor Datuk Dr. Asma Ismail today received a courtesy visit from the top management of Toyohashi University of Technology (TUT), Japan.

The six-member delegation from TUT was headed by its Executive-Trustee and Vice-President (Educational Affairs) Professor Dr. Mitsuteru Inoue.  

USM and TUT have been working closely together across many fields of research spanning from microelectronics engineering to materials science since 2006, and the collaboration has been intensified with the establishment of the Toyohashi University of Technology – Universiti Sains Malaysia Technology Collaboration Centre located at Jalan Cantonment, Penang in 2013.

Asma hoped that TUT will help USM to strengthen research and academic collaboration with the Japanese companies and industries based in Penang since TUT has a close contact with the over 70 Japanese companies here.

“With the expertise and strength that we have and with TUT’s assistance, I would like to see USM becoming a high-end and high-impact solution provider for these companies,” she said.

Inoue and Asma both agreed to continue to collaborate in several ongoing multidisciplinary research programmes as well as to explore the potential of establishing a double degree programme for the immediate future and working towards a joint degree programme in the future.

Inoue also took the opportunity to extend his invitation to Asma as the Keynote Speaker for the ASEAN University Presidents Forum which is going to be held on 18 December 2016 in Penang.

This Forum is expected to be attended by many prominent ASEAN Universities Presidents/Vice-Chancellors with the theme "Expanding and Deepening International Collaboration among Higher Education Institutions in the field of Science and Technology".

In addition to that, Inoue also invited Asma to attend the 4th meeting of the Council for the Promotion of Education and Research on Technology and Science which is scheduled to be held in Japan on 23 February 2017.

Among those present from USM were Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation) Professor Dato' Dr. Muhamad Jantan, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and International) Profesor Dato' Dr. Ahmad Shukri Mustapa Kamal, Director of International Collaboration Office and Director of Research Creativity and Management Office Professor Dr. Lee Keat Teong while from TUT were Senior Directors of Global Education TUT-Penang Professor Dr. Jun Kyokane and Professor Dr. Masayuki Nagao, and Assoc. Prof. Lim Pang Boey from TUT Centre for International Education.