By Syarifah Noormaisarah Tuan Besar, International Centre

Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Universitas Muslim Indonesia (UMI) in February, aiming to strengthen academic and research cooperation between its Faculty of Fisheries and Food Science (FPSM) and the Indonesian university.

The key objectives of the five-year MoU are:

1. Enhancing Academic Engagement – Creating opportunities for staff and students from both UMT and UMI to participate in academic activities, particularly in fisheries and food science.
2. Capacity Building – Strengthening and implementing programmes to improve research capabilities, staff training, and student development in these specialized fields.

The partnership encompasses various aspects of academic and research collaboration, including:

• Exchange of expertise and facilities
• Student and staff exchange programs for mobility initiatives, internships, and practical training
• Joint research, grant applications, and scientific publications
• Co-hosting of seminars and conferences
• Visiting professor programmes and external postgraduate examiners
• Other mutually agreed areas of cooperation

The MoU was signed between UMT Vice-Chancellor and UMI Rector.

Following the signing ceremony, UMT Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ts. Dr. Zamri Ibrahim, expressed optimism about the collaboration.

“With the MOU agreement officially signed, UMT and UMI will now work together for the benefit of both institutions,” he said. “We hope this partnership will bear fruit and give us meaningful impacts.”

The MoU was formalized during the ASEAN Universities Exhibition and Forum, organized by Education Malaysia Global Services (EMGS) and the Ministry of Higher Education (MoHE) in February and held at Sunway Resort Hotel.

The two-day programme was officiated by Dato’ Seri Diraja Dr. Zambry Abd Kadir, Minister of Higher Education, and gathered senior management, faculty members, and students from ASEAN countries, Timor-Leste, Uzbekistan, as well as public and private universities in Malaysia. The event served as a platform for Malaysian universities to showcase their institutions and foster new collaborations within ASEAN countries.

UMI, located in Makassar, South Sulawesi, was established in 1954, making it one of the oldest and largest private universities in the northeastern region of Indonesia. It is ranked as the top private university in Sulawesi (2020) and the 5th best higher education institution in South Sulawesi (2024).

Last October, UMI delegation visited FPSM. Led by the Dean of the Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences (FFMS), the delegation held discussions with academic and support staff to explore potential collaborations.

UMI’s FFMS offers three programmes closely related to UMT, namely Aquaculture, Fisheries Resource Utilization, and Marine Science. During the meeting, both institutions presented their teaching and research strengths, opening doors to further cooperation.

The MoU marked a significant step towards strengthening academic and research ties between UMT and UMI, fostering innovation, and enhancing the quality of education and training in fisheries and food science.