UUM Is Amongst The 18 Malaysia Public Universities That Seals MoU With EDA NTB, Indonesia
Putrajaya - A total of 18 Malaysian institutions of higher education (IHEs) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Education Development Authority (EDA) of the Province of Nusa Tenggara Barat (NTB) Indonesia recently.
The signing of the MoU was witnessed by the Minister of Education, Dr. Maszlee Malik at Dewan Zaaba, Ministry of Education Malaysia (KPM).
Dr. Maszlee said Malaysia's relation with Indonesia was not a new one in terms of cooperation.
He said that as a country and as a whole, the two countries should always work together to create new histories together, including in the Asia region itself.
He said Malaysia and Indonesia should also enhance their understanding, mutual respect and close ties between the two countries, at least through education.
“I look forward to joint development and co-existing as a family that needs to be developed.
"Indonesian students need exposure in Malaysia, and vice versa, in fact more collaborations should be held such as student mobility programmes, academia exchange programmes and double degree programmes," he said at the Signing Ceremony of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) Between the Educational Development Authority (EDA) of the Province of West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) Indonesia and the Malaysian IHEs.
At the ceremony, a total of 18 IHEs including UUM which was represented by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Dr. Ahmad Bashawir Abdul Ghani signed the memorandum.
Dr. Maszlee said he would like for all the Vice Chancellors of universities in the country to explore possible opportunities so as to secure a shared future that they would like to explore.
According to him, the relations between both nations’ universities should also be nurtured not only in geopolitics but in education.
In addition, he said, the development of human capital was also important to produce holistic students who could contribute to the country.
“I hope more Indonesian students will come to study in Malaysia not only for mobility programmes.
“With the signing of the MoU between the EDA NTB and the IHEs in Malaysia, the MOE and the IHEs in this country have agreed to give the privilege to Indonesian students namely fees deduction or discounts for programmes offered and the admission of 149 students from the first batch of NTB Governor's Scholarship to Malaysia in September will involve five universities,” he said.
He also expressed hope that the cooperation between the MOE and NTB will continue not only for five years but from time to time.
Meanwhile, the NTB Governor, Dr. Zulkieflimansyah said the signing of the MoU was the first step in collaboration between universities in NTB and Malaysia.