The University of Bradford has taken a major step forward in developing its presence in Malaysia by signing a collaboration agreement with an agency of the Penang State Government.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by the University’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Brian Cantor and State Minister for Religious Affairs, Domestic Trade & Consumer Affairs, The Honourable Dato Abdul Malik Kassim, was witnessed by Penang’s Deputy Chief Minister, Professor Dr Palanisamy Ramasamy.
This new relationship with PIHH Development SDN BHD, an agency of the Penang State Government, is specifically designed to promote the internationalisation of higher education and cultural co-operation in Penang, Malaysia and UK. The MoU seeks to develop and strengthen the bonds between academic communities in Penang and Bradford; and in the process also contribute to generating understanding, cooperation and communication between the two cultures.
Highlighted as one of the reasons behind the new relationship was the University of Bradford’s strong business offering. This includes its business school which has once again been named top in the world, with its Distance-Learning MBA and its prestigious Triple Crown accreditation. Professor Cantor and the Deputy Chief Minister also discussed the University’s Peace Studies Department and its renowned reputation across the world, Bradford’s strong Research and Knowledge Transfer Centres, including leading on polymer engineering, medical and automotive sectors and the recent announcement of a new £3.8m Digital Health Zone. This will enable companies developing new healthcare products and services to connect with Bradford’s outstanding capabilities in healthcare systems research, practice-based medicine and information and communications technology.
The signing of the MoU comes after a Penang State Trade Mission to the UK in September as the University seeks to develop its strategic partnerships with leading institutions.
Professor Cantor said: “As one of the world’s leading technology universities, Bradford is at the forefront of researching and developing solutions to the big global issues, including sustainable development and climate change, poverty, ill-health and disease, production and manufacturing, and terrorism and security.
“The University of Bradford is a truly international University, both in terms of its research and teaching and in attracting students from all over the world. Penang and its great institutions are well placed to partner with us as we jointly develop responses to issues that affect us all. I am delighted that we have agreed our memorandum of understanding and look forward very much to developing our joint working in the future.”
The agreement sets out areas of collaboration between the two organisations. These will focus on staff development and exchange, student exchange, curriculum development and joint research programmes.