UMS, China uni to collaborate
KOTA KINABALU: Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) and Wuyi University, China have inked a Letter of Intent (LOI) for mutual cooperation and collaboration in academic expertise with the aim of encouraging and nurturing the long-term development of both institutions.
Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in Kota Kinabalu, Liang Caide said the signing of the LOI between Wuyi University and UMS was a concrete manifestation of the friendly exchanges between Kota Kinabalu and Jiangmen city of Guangdong province.
He said the LOI was also an epitome of the educational and cultural exchanges between China and Sabah.
Laing said Wuyi University, located in Jiangmen city, was the only comprehensive university offering mostly engineering courses in the west bank of the Pearl River Delta.
“It serves as the cradle of talented people, and the base for science and technology research in Jiangmen and its surrouding areas.”
On the other hand, he said UMS, reputed as the most beautiful city university in Southeast Asia, was renowned for its research in many fields, such as marine research.
“Now the two institutions have come together and intend to strengthen the exchanges between teachers and students, as well as to explore the collaboration of scientific research and education projects.
“I believe this will promote complementary advantages of both instituitons and cultivate more outstanding and talented people who understand the culture of both countries,” Liang said when gracing the signing ceremony here yesterday.
Liang said the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China was held in Beijing last week had confirmed that China would adhere to the fundamental national policy of opening up and actively promoting international cooperation through the Belt and Road Initiative, making efforts to realize the connectivity of policies, infrastructure, trade, finance and people.
“As an important stop on the Maritime Silk Road, Sabah has plentiful natural resources, with multi-ethnic groups with different religions and cultures living in harmony.
“I believe that the cooperation between China and Sabah in various fields will be closer in the future.
“The Consulate General will continue to serve our duty in promoting the friendly relations between the two places, and effectively undertake the responsibility as the boat of friendship, as well as the bridge of cooperation,” he said.
Meanwhile, UMS Vice Chancellor Prof Datuk Dr D Kamarudin D Mudin said the Wuyi University-UMS networking would incorporate collaborations in two aspects - staff and student mobility; and joint research projects in areas such as education, engineering, science and technology, economics, management and medicine.
He said the LOI would also provide opportunities for student development in both institutions through joint activities such as conferences, lectures, special short training courses, seminars, symposiums and many more.
“Our hope is for this collaboration to lead to a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in the near future.
“This will definitely produce a positive impact on top of strengthening the ties between both countries and institutions where we would develop and nurture mutually beneficial relationships with all parties.”
On that note, he said UMS planned to establish a programme in collaboration with Wuyi University by September 2018.
Kamarudin said he looked forward to more mutually beneficial China-UMS collaborations in the education of our young minds and talents.
“Indeed, the China’s Belt and Road Initiative philosophy of nurturing connectivity, cooperation and global engagement would be very much welcomed in UMS given our close geographical locations, similar cultural values and education aspirations.”
Kamarudin said the beginning of the Wuyi University-UMS collaboration also served to reaffirm the local university’s ties with the Chinese community in Sabah.
He said UMS was established not only as a centre for tertiary education, but also in response to the specific needs and conditions of Sabah.
“Our primary aim is to provide education access and opportunities to those who might otherwise be left behind due to economic, social and geographical factors.
“Monetary profits and accumulation as such are not and have never been the main focus of UMS.
“This is why we value greatly the support and commitment extended by industry and the private sector in the development and progress of our beloved university.”
Also present were the United Sabah Sze Yip Association president Datuk Susan Wong Siew Guen, Wuyi University Chancellor Prof Zhang Kun and Huang Association of Malaysia president Datuk Wong Ten An.