UNIMAP signed MoU with University of Sharjah

By Muin Abdul Majid

DUBAI, July 13 (Bernama) -- Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP) recently inked memorandums of understanding with three foreign universities -- two in the Indian Ocean island of Mauritius and one in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) -- in a bid to harness the advantages that education could offer for the future.

The universities involved are the University of Sharjah, University of Mauritius and University of Technology, Mauritius.

Under the MoUs, UniMAP and its partners will forge, among others, cooperation in the field of research and education, and exchange of information, academic materials and academic publication.

They will also cooperate in developing new projects and organising joint research, seminars, advisory and consultancy activities, and look into other suitable areas of cooperation and strategic alliance.

Heading the delegation from UniMAP, which opened its doors in 2002, was Perlis Crown Prince Tuanku Syed Faizuddin Putra Syed Sirajuddin Jamalullail, who is also UniMAP Chancellor.

Met by Bernama after the signing of the MoU between UniMAP and University of Sharjah on Sunday, Tuanku Syed Faizuddin said the initiative would enable both parties to tap into each other's strengths as well as established networks.

And being relatively new universities, he said, the two institutions of higher learning could join hands as they moved forward to stamp their mark on the education landscape.

"They have a strong network in the Middle East and we too have a solid collaborative framework with universities in neighbouring countries and beyond.

"So we can leverage on each other's expertise as well as collaborate with other universities having the know-how and expertise in other fields," said Tuanku Syed Faizuddin.

UniMAP's strength lies in electronics-based engineering and other engineering fields that relate to and support the electronics industry which is the leading sector in Malaysia's manufacturing sector.

According to the Crown Prince, the education MoUs could further strengthen ties between Malaysia and the UAE as well as Mauritius.

In his remarks at the signing which took place in Dubai's neighbouring Emirate of Sharjah, UniMAP Vice-Chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Kamarudin Hussin said the university had made 16 trips to nine countries in the first half of 2009.

"The aims of the visits range from looking for new students and searching for collaborative partners in research and academic spheres, to student and staff exchange and participating in activities organised by our partners," he said.

He said the outcome of such visits had been encouraging, including in terms of growth of UniMAP's international student population.

He said two per cent of UniMAP's 5,000 students were foreigners and the university aimed to increase the figure to 10 per cent. The university is set to welcome about 40 Yemeni students soon.

Dr Kamarudin inked the MoU for UniMAP while Sharjah University was represented by its Chancellor, Dr Samy Mahmoud.

-- BERNAMA