Curtin inks MoUs with Untar, IIST
MIRI: Curtin University Malaysia (Curtin Malaysia) recently signed memorandums of understanding (MoU) for collaboration in education and research with two leading institutions of higher learning in Indonesia and India.
The MoUs were signed in an online ceremony with Universitas Tarumanagara (Untar) in Jakarta Barat, Indonesia, and Indore Institute of Science and Technology (IIST) in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India.
The MoUs set the framework for collaboration in a wide range of educational and research activities, including exchange of students and faculty members for research, knowledge sharing, academic internships, academic materials and publications as well as joint academic and scientific conferences.
Curtin Malaysia’s pro vicechancellor, president and chief executive Professor Simon Leunig; rector of Untar Professor Agustinus Purna Irawan; and director-general of IIST Shri Arun S. Bhatnagar, signed the MoUs on behalf of their respective universities. Professor Leunig was represented by his deputy, Professor Vincent Lee Chieng Chen at the signing ceremony.
Also in attendance were dean of Curtin Malaysia’s Faculty of Engineering and Science Professor Tuong-Thuy Vu, and head of its Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering Associate Professor Lenin Gopal; Untar’s dean of Faculty of Engineering Dr Harto Tanujaya; and principal of IIST Dr Keshav Patidar.
Leunig said in his text of speech delivered Lee that it was very apparent that Untar’s and IIST’s strengths in academia and research could be leveraged with Curtin Malaysia’s strengths as Curtin University’s largest global campus and education and research hub in Southeast Asia.
“Like your institutions, Curtin Malaysia is committed to innovation and excellence in teaching and research, engaging local communities and transforming lives through leadership, innovation and excellence. Our collective goal with these MoUs is to develop and offer higher education of the highest quality and jointly conduct research that address and solve real-world problems,” he said.
He added that Curtin was recently placed in the world’s top 200 universities in QS World University Rankings 2022 and became one of only three Australian universities to achieve a QS Five Stars Plus rating which are clear indicators of the university’s ability to harness its strengths as a global and innovative institution.
Augustinus meanwhile remarked that close ties and historical links between Malaysia and Indonesia would allow the two universities to effectively implement collaborative offline and online academic programmes and joint research.
He added the MoU was timely as Untar, Indonesia’s second-highest ranked private university, seeks to expand its footprint in the region with more integrative and unprecedented cross-boundary global education.
“It is our goal to produce a whole new generation of graduates who are able to compete not just in Asia, but globally,” he said.
Dr Keshav, who also spoke at the ceremony said that IIST’s vision is to be a nationally recognised institution of excellence in technical education and is committed to producing competent graduates capable of making valuable contributions to society through holistic development, promoting critical thinking, project-orientated case-based learning, and developing practical skills required for industry.
The signing ceremony was followed by online academic talks for over 200 academics, researchers and students from Curtin Malaysia, Untar and IIST.