The minister recently concluded a five-day visit to Turkey and Iran, securing 19 MoUs and three MoCs to strengthen collaboration in research, expert exchange, and student programs.
The minister recently concluded a five-day visit to Turkey and Iran, securing 19 MoUs and three MoCs to strengthen collaboration in research, expert exchange, and student programs.
Malaysia’s Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin recently concluded a five-day official visit to Turkey and Iran. During the visit, a total of 19 Memorandums of Understanding and three Memorandums of Cooperation were formalized.
The journey served as a platform for the Higher Education Ministry to investigate avenues for collaboration, specifically in research, expert exchanges, and student mobility programs.
In Turkey, three MoUs were signed between Istanbul Gelisim University and three premier Malaysian public universities: Universiti Sains Malaysia, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, and Universiti Malaya. These MoUs primarily focus on offshore programs, student and staff exchanges, research initiatives, and other academic endeavors.
“The MoUs clearly reflect the growing confidence in the standard of Malaysian higher education institutions,” said Mohamed Khaled.
In Iran, collaborations spanned across multiple fields, including agriculture, science, and technology. A total of 16 MoUs and three MoCs were signed with four Iranian universities, covering student exchanges, engineering research, and dual-degree programs. The partnerships aim to enrich students’ skills and marketability, thereby contributing to both nations’ development.
Tackling pressing issues
During his time in Iran, the minister emphasized the need for international collaboration to tackle pressing issues such as food security, education, and climate change. He also participated in a meeting with the board of trustees of the D-8 International University alongside representatives from six other countries, including Iran, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, and Nigeria.
Mohamed Khaled proposed that D8IU should specialize in science and technology to differentiate itself from other institutions.
Both nations seemed eager to continue growing their relationship in higher education, touching upon Research and Development opportunities during the concluding courtesy call between Mohamed Khaled and Iran’s Science, Research, and Technology Minister Mohamad Ali Zolfigol.
Mohamed Khaled concluded his visit with optimism, expressing hope that these newly minted collaborations will yield measurable outcomes and elevate Malaysia’s global standing in higher education.
