UTAR and NPUST sign MoU

Following UTAR's collaborations with a string of leading universities from Taiwan since its establishment and also the friendly visits to several eminent Taiwanese institutions of higher learning in October 2013, UTAR embarks on a collaborative journey with National Pingtung University of Science and Technology (NPUST) by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 26 February 2014 at the UTAR Perak Campus.

Signing on behalf of the parties were UTAR President Ir Prof Academician Dato' Dr Chuah Hean Teik and President of NPUST Prof Dr Mike Guu Yuan-Kuang. Witnessing the signing were UTAR Faculty of Science Dean Assoc Prof Dr Lim Tuck Meng and NPUST Dean of Office of International Affairs Prof Henry Chen Ho-Hsien. The other UTAR representatives present at the MoU signing were Faculty of Science Deputy Dean (R&D and Postgraduate) Assoc Prof Dr Tee Chong Siang, Head of Department of Biological Science Assoc Prof Dr Teh Yok Lan, Head of Department of Department of Agricultural Science Dr Ooi Ai Lin, Director of UTAR Division of Community and International Networking (DCInternet) Dr Tan Son Len.

The MoU signing formalised the collaborations on joint research projects, focusing on biological science areas including Biotechnology, Food Technology and Agriculture Science. This would open the doors for Master's degree students from both UTAR and NPUST to participate in the joint research projects with the co-supervision by academic staff from both institutions. Subsequently, students who successfully complete and fulfill the academic requirements of both universities will be duly awarded Master's degree by each university.

Citing the encouragement by the Ministry of Education for Malaysian universities to actively collaborate with institutions of higher learning from abroad, Prof Chuah expressed his delight in the signing and said that UTAR looks forward to fruitful joint ventures with NPUST.

Impressed by UTAR's prodigious achievement over the past decade, Prof Guu was also positive about the signed MoU, saying that it would pave the way for more educational opportunities.

Both universities are also in the midst of discussing and applying the similar framework on other related programmes.

The benefits that UTAR staff and students have reaped from the international collaborations with Taiwan universities are aplenty. An example of such benefits is that of UTAR lecturer Tian Kian Wee who was accepted into National Taiwan University to do his PhD thesis with co-supervision by both National Taiwan University and UTAR. Upon completion, he will then be conferred Doctor Philosophy in Life Science from the former and also the Doctor of Philosophy in Science from the latter.

Prof Chuah and Prof Guu signing the MoU

From left: Dr Tan, Dr Tee, Prof Chen, Prof Guu, Prof Chuah, Dr Lim, Dr Ooi and Dr Teh

Prof Chuah presenting a token of appreciation of to Prof Guu on behalf of UTAR

Prof Guu reciprocated by giving a souvenir to Prof Chuah