USM PENANG, 19 October 2023 – Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) recently took the move to strengthen its international bilateral ties with China with the signing of four Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) with four universities from the country.

The universities which signed the MoU are Guilin Medical University (GLMU), Huaiyin Institute of Technology (HYIT), Liaoning University (LNU) and Suzhou City University (SZCU).

The signing of the MoU will allow the parties involved to undertake the necessary steps to promote, develop and establish research, education and training programmes.

The MoU will cover the following fields:

1. Exchange of students and/or staff;
2. Joint research and development programmes;
3. Joint academic programmes;
4. Joint workshops and training programmes;
5. Exchange of publications; and
6. Any other academic linkages and cooperation that will be mutually identified and agreed by the parties from time to time.

Signing on behalf of USM was the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academic and International, Professor Dato’ Gs. Dr. Narimah Samat, while the four partner institutions from China were represented by Yang Chengcheng, Regional Executive Director, Asia China Education and Culture (ACEC) Association; Professor Dr. Li Qinghua, Vice President, Guilin Medical University (GLMU); Professor Wu Jianhua, Vice President, Huaiyin Institute of Technology (HYIT); Professor Shi Baodong, Vice President Liaoning University (LNU), and Professor Gao Lei, Vice President, Suzhou City University (SZCU).

Narimah, who joined the signing ceremony online, expressed her heartfelt appreciation to all the universities involved for the warm reception and gracious acceptance of collaborating with USM.

“USM is a research-intensive University recognised by the Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia (MOHE) in 2007. In 2008, USM also became the first university in the country to be selected by the Malaysian government to participate in the Accelerated Programme for Excellence (APEX), a fast-track programme that helps tertiary institutions achieve world-class status,” she said.

"USM particularly, strives to champion in sustainability. USM has become one of the best sustainability-led universities after being placed at No.4 in the world, No.1 in Asia and No.1 in Malaysia in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings (THE-IR) 2022, which measure the contributions made by an institution and its community in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations by 2030."

“I believe this collaboration will aspire and proceed smoothly, fruitfully and will bring beneficial outcomes for all partners. I am surely looking forward to the successful implementation of this MoU with all partners,” she added.

Text: Siti Fatimah Abu Mansor/Editing: Mazlan Hanafi Basharudin