To acknowledge 15 strategic partners who signed Memorandums of Understanding/ Agreements (MoU/MoA) with the Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) in the year 2021, a Virtual Appreciation Ceremony was organised by Universiti Teknologi MARA Cawangan Negeri Sembilan (UiTMCNS) on 9th September 2022. One of UiTM’s strategic partners is Universitas Brawijaya (UB) Indonesia.
Both universities (UiTM and UB) have a common goal to improve their international standing, UB has the vision to be a pioneer and innovative university with an international reputation for science and technology advancements, while UiTM aims at becoming a Globally Renowned University by 2025. Therefore, the MoA was signed by Prof. Dr Yamin Yasin (Rector of UiTMCNS) and Prof Dr Imam Santoso (Dean of Faculty of Agricultural Technology UB) on 19th November 2021, so that both universities can work synergistically to create a more robust international education ecosystem.
The synergistic collaboration between UiTMCNS and UB started in the year 2019. Dr Eddie Ti Tjih Tan from the Department of Food Technology UiTMCNS and Dr Wenny Bekti Sunarharum from the Department of Agricultural Food Technology UB (Now known as the Department of Food Science and Technology) initiated several activities together with their fellow colleagues before the signing of the MoA. The activities include the appointments of international journal editors, membership for research entity, participation in conferences and talks, invited speaker for a workshop, final year project co-supervision, guest lectures (sensory evaluation, food safety, and food toxicology), and departmental online meetings. These activities not only have benefited students and academicians but also the industrial partners of both universities.
The MoA for Student Exchange Programme signed between UiTM and UB in 2021 spelt out more collaborative works in 2023 to deepen the strategic partnership. Through this MoA, both universities have agreed to set the terms and conditions governing and facilitating the joint activities involving the students between two universities, particularly international collaboration between students’ associations, research collaboration, matching grants, student innovation competitions, community activities, and practical training for students.
The joint activities will strengthen the networking of both universities, and work towards sustaining excellence in teaching and learning. These impactful collaborations will undoubtedly provide more opportunities for each other to learn the best practices of the two universities, and aid in producing globally competitive staff and graduates.