USM, PENANG, 12 December 2016 - Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) today received an official courtesy visit from the delegates of Xinyang University, China to discuss and identify potential areas of mutual interest for academic and research collaborations.

The Xinyang University delegation was headed by its Vice-President Professor Mao Haitao; along with the Director of International Cooperation and Exchange Department Lu Jinfeng; Secretary for Board of Directors Yuan Wenxia and Officer for Teaching Affairs Office Yan Ping. Accompanying the group was Helen Liu Rong from the Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchange (CSCSE).

During the two hour session chaired by the USM Vice-Chancellor Professor Datuk Dr. Asma Ismail, both sides have agreed to look into the possibility of engaging in staff and student exchange and mobility programmes.

“Selected undergraduate students from Xinyang University can come over and study for one semester or a maximum of two semesters in USM which allows credit transfer.

“We can also have some customised short-term programmes that tailored to the needs and requirement of the students similar to the Summer School programmes conducted by some schools in USM,” said Asma.

Meanwhile, Mao Haitao speaking through an interpreter said that, Xinyang University is looking forward to establish international collaboration with USM in the specified areas.

“We have heard so much about USM, being among the leading research university and the university with the APEX status in Malaysia, and its achievements globally, and we would certainly want to include USM as one of our strategic partners,” added Mao Haitao, who also mentioned that they had earlier visited Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) and Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) and will visit several other public universities in the country.  

Xinyang University is located in Xinyang city which is famous for its cultural and historical interests in the south of Central China's Henan province. It has an enrolment of 18,000 students mostly majoring in Education, Economics, Law, Arts, Engineering and Information Technology.

Among those present from USM were the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and International) Professor Dato' Dr. Ahmad Shukri Mustapa Kamal; Bursar Dr. Rohayati Mohd Isa; Director of International Mobility and Career Centre (IMCC) Dr. Muhizam Mustafa; Director of International Collaborations Office Professor Dr. Lee Keat Teong; Deans and Deputy Deans; Directors of respective Centres and Principal Officers of USM.

Text: Tan Ewe Hoe / Photo: Ebrahim Abdul Manan