UTAR Establishes Strategic Link with University of Ottawa, Canada

UTAR sealed a new horizon of relationship with University of Ottawa, Canada with the signing of faculty/student exchange agreement between the two institutions on 14 May 2010 at the UTAR Kuala Lumpur Campus.

The agreement was signed when a delegation from University of Ottawa and Brunsfield Group visited UTAR Kuala Lumpur Campus in Setapak. UTAR President Ir. Professor Dato' Dr. Chuah Hean Teik signed for UTAR while University of Ottawa Vice President of External Relations Mr. Louis De Melo, signed on behalf of University of Ottawa President Mr. Allan Rock. Signing as witness was UTAR Vice President (Internationalisation and Academic Development) Professor Dr. Ewe Hong Tat. Present to witness the signing was Dato' Dr. Ir. Gan Thian Leong, Group Managing Director of Brunsfield Group.

Also present at this signing ceremony were delegates from University of Ottawa - Dean of Faculty of Engineering Prof. Dr. Claude Lague, Director of Development Anne Allard, Director of Alumni Relations Guy Larocque, Prof. Dr. Ronald Droste, Professor and Chair of Civil Engineering, and Prof. Dr. Marie Durocher.

Accompanying Dato' Gan from Brunsfield were Director of Research & Development Kow Siew Kin, Director of Human Capital Development Goh Siew Chin, and Director of Planning & Development Gan Tien Chie.

On the strategic partnership with University of Ottawa, Prof Chuah thanked Dato' Gan for linking UTAR with his alma mater and gave his assurance of an active relationship with University of Ottawa.

In his speech, University of Ottawa Vice President of External Relations Louis De Melo cited Dato' Gan as the catalyst for the collaboration process with UTAR. He added that the relationship with UTAR aligned with University of Ottawa's internationalisation initiative.

At the meeting, Prof. Chuah briefed the Canadian visitors about the education system in Malaysia. He specially mentioned to University of Ottawa delegates about UTAR Soft Skill Development Certification Programme and UTAR Global R&D Network.

In briefing about his faculty, Prof. Lague mentioned that University of Ottawa was founded as a college in 1848 and became a public-funded university in 1965. The university was ranked seventh in research intensiveness and the third largest cooperative education programmes provider in Canada.

The friendly visit by University of Ottawa and Brunsfield proved to be a fruitful one as mutual understandings were further enhanced with the aim of advancing education and research excellence.