USM PENANG, 22 April 2022 – Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) has entered into a partnership with Villa College, Maldives for a future collaboration in the field of education.

The collaboration was sealed through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing ceremony held at the USM Chancellory Conference Room (CCR) today.

USM was represented by its Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Student Development Affairs and Alumni), Professor Dr. Azlinda Azman on behalf of USM Vice-Chancellor together with Villa College Vice Rector, Dr. Ali Najeeb.

The aim of this MoU is to establish a collaborative partnership in order to strengthen the connection in research and education programmes, and also in catalysing more future collaboration together with the involvement of selected schools and USM departments, namely the School of Management, School of Educational Studies, Institute of Postgraduate Studies, USM Strategic Corporate Development Office and USM Academic Management Division.

According to Azlinda, this MoU is a key milestone in USM’s collaboration with Villa College, the leading education and training institute in the Maldives which is aimed at developing, supporting and enriching educational programmes, research activities and training programmes in the field that will be beneficial to both parties.

“We at USM, as one of the top-ranking research universities in Malaysia and the first science university in the country, are happy to cultivate the spirit of academic collaboration between fellow institutions, with the hope that it will bring mutual benefits to both institutions as well as to Malaysia and Maldives,” she said.

Azlinda further added that the university are looking forward to have more collaborations among its international partners, in order to nurture the next generation of talents with regard to innovation and technology that will benefit both USM and its partners.

Meanwhile, Ali Najeeb said that Villa College is looking forward on the possibility of future collaboration in different aspects and areas, especially in terms of research, academic, mobility programmes and the increasing enrolment of students from Maldives at USM.

“With the strength of research and educational programmes led by USM, we hope we can learn more from USM in developing the quality of the graduates and the university,” said Ali Najeeb.

The ceremony was then continued with a short discussion between both parties, discussing on future collaborations whereby the representatives of selected schools and departments gave an overview by promoting and presenting each department’s strengths, as well as proposing several strategies to strengthen this partnership.

Also present were Villa College Deputy Vice-Rector, Academic and Students, Dr. Abdulla Sadig; Villa College Deputy Vice-Rector, Administration and Finance, Abdul Munnim Mohamed Manik; Director of USM Strategic Corporate Development Office, Muhammad Sabri Said; Dean, USM School of Management, Professor Dr. Noor Hazlina Ahmad; Dean, USM School of Educational Studies, Associate Professor Dr. Rahimi Che Aman; Senior Deputy Registrar, USM Academic Management Division, Ramli Osman and USM Institute of Postgraduate Studies Assistant Registrar, Syazira Othman, representing the Dean.

Text: Nur Farrah Ezlin Mohd Suhaimi/Photo: Mohd Fairus Md Isa