PENANG, 15 July 2022 - Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) has been selected as a host in Malaysia, joining the establishment of the Osaka University ASEAN Campuses, as both universities embark on a new level of partnership.

Both parties officially affirm the partnership through the Signing Ceremony of Addendum, which also indicates that USM together with Osaka University (OU) will be committed to strengthen their relationship beyond research laboratories.

USM Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dato’ Dr. Faisal Rafiq Mahamd Adikan said, the documents signed will ensure that there will be commitment in terms of more meaningful cooperation such as in establishing and strengthening OU-USM joint laboratories for carrying out joint research activities, developing and conducting international joint/double degree programmes, and participation in university-industry collaboration.

He added that, USM has also provided a designated office at the USM-Toray Building and USM shall facilitate the use of lecture halls and other facilities, if so required.

“I have been made to understand that the Osaka University ASEAN Campus Sustainable Development Goals Co-creation Network is comprised of several research areas such as on climate change, air pollution, food loss and plastic waste, which match well with the strength of USM’s researchers.

"We have been making accelerated research progress in the field of advanced materials, engineering (water and environment), health and well-being and cultural, heritage and community development, as portrayed by the increasing number of publications and citations for the past five years.

"Seeing the similarity in research interest, I fully support the move towards research collaboration not only between OU and USM but with industries who are interested to participate in USM-OU in university-industry collaboration,” he said during the virtual ceremony held recently.

Also present at the ceremony were President of Osaka University, Dr. Nishio Shojiro, USM Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research & Innovation), Professor Dato’ Ir Dr. Abdul Rahman Mohamed, Executive Vice-President of Osaka University, Dr. Kawahara Genta and key university officials from both institutions.

Meanwhile, USM Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research & Innovation, Professor Dato’ Ir. Dr. Abdul Rahman Mohamed added, the smart partnership between both parties is aimed at finding solutions that matter to human kind, solutions to global challenges and working together in contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals.

He also said, a programme worth mentioning is the Osaka University International Certificate Programme, where five subjects are given focus, namely Advanced Industrial Biotechnology, Nanoscience and Nanotechnology as Manufacturing Core, Introduction to Computational Materials Design, Frontier Engineering Science: An Introduction through STEM-Centered Learning, and Halal Science, Technology and Innovation (HaSTI).

“USM has the strength in most of these subjects and I am confident our students and staff will partake in the programme as well,” he said.

Text: Marziana Mohamed Alias