Malaysia universities delegation recently met the University of Kashmir (KU) to explore collaboration opportunities and strengthen academic ties. Leading this delegation from Education Malaysia Global Services was Raja Fariz Raja Eyuddin, who met KU Vice Chancellor Prof. Nilofer Khan and Registrar Prof. Naseer Iqbal to discuss a few such potential partnerships.
The group was facilitated by Prezlaan Education Services in Srinagar. It included representatives of Universiti Teknologi Petronas, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Education Malaysia Global Services, and Asia Pacific University. Prof Nilofer Khan expressed satisfaction over the proposed collaborations and termed this visit as a significant step toward establishing a robust academic relationship between KU and the Malaysian institutions.
“Through collaborative programmes, we can offer our students and faculty exposure to diverse cultural and educational perspectives, which is crucial for holistic development”, Prof Khan said.
Director, Institute of Technology (IoT), KU, Prof M Tariq Banday, highlighted potential areas of collaboration and the possible opportunities the partnership would bring, particularly in student and faculty exchange, joint degree programmes and research collaborations.
“By working together, we can achieve significant academic and cultural exchange, paving the way for innovative educational practices”, he said.
The discussions focused on establishing student exchange programmes, where students could experience different teaching methodologies and broaden their perspectives.
The proposed joint undergraduate and postgraduate programmes aim to combine expertise from both regions, enhancing employability and creating a competitive academic environment.
Fields such as engineering, business and environmental studies were identified for potential joint degree programmes.
The delegation also emphasised faculty exchange initiatives, where academic staff could share expertise and encourage collaborative research.
“Joint faculty supervision and research collaboration will significantly enrich our academic experiences, providing students with diverse perspectives and methodologies”, Prof Banday added.
Other proposals included the development of joint academic journals to publish collaborative research, organising joint workshops and tech fests and introducing summer and winter campus programmes that combine short-term courses and cultural activities.
The agenda culminates in a mutual understanding to come up with a framework that will guide their cooperation. Online meetings by the delegation will deliberate on how the initiatives proposed can be enacted; it is the first step into a long-term partnership.
