7 November 2023 – The Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) School of Physics recently welcomed the delegates from Saint Petersburg Electrotechnical University LETI Russia, led by its Vice-Rector of International Affairs, Dr. Anastasia Minina, and Associate Professor Faculty of Electronics, Dr. Vitaly Vitko.

The USM School of Physics team, consisting of the school's management and lecturers specialising in nuclear research, engaged in fruitful discussions with their LETI counterparts. This meeting was a continuation of prior discussions held through a series of online meetings, with its primary objective to solidify plans for collaborative endeavours.

USM has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with LETI, which covers academic exchange programmes, joint research publications and active participation in conferences and seminars.

The practical implementation of this partnership is set to commence next year, with two postgraduate students from each institution participating in the Student Exchange Programme.

During the visit, Anastasia extended a gracious invitation for USM to visit Saint Petersburg, providing an exciting opportunity to tour a nuclear power plant in Russia. Additionally, she also welcomed the USM academic staff to participate in academic or research attachments, offering professional courses and training in electronics and nuclear physics.

According to Anastasia, LETI was keen to pursue the potential in developing the Master’s dual degree programme “New Generation of Electronic Component Base” with USM.

Among other topics discussed were the research on materials for microelectronics and nuclear physics. LETI was elated to engage lecturers with similar research interests in nuclear physics with partner institutions and industries in Russia.

The meeting also put forth the initiatives to engage research teams from both parties through online setup.

Anastasia took the opportunity to interact with more than 20 final-year students and Master’s postgraduate students, shedding light on study opportunities at LETI and the potential for participating in the Student Exchange Programme.

This would allow students to gain valuable insights into programmes offered, research expertise, and laboratory facilities available at LETI.

The visit concluded with the exchange of souvenirs, symbolising the goodwill and collaborative spirit between the two institutions.

Both parties look forward to a future marked by even more promising collaborations in coming years, fostering mutual growth and understanding in the global academic landscape.

Text & Photo: Edzuwyn Fathin Mahyuddin (School of Physics)/ Editing: Nur Farrah Ezlin Mohd Suhaimi and Mazlan Hanafi Basharudin