Malaysia-Turkiye Agree To Set Up Joint Academic Institute, Expand Scholarship - Zambry

GEORGE TOWN, April 28 (Bernama) -- Malaysia and Turkey have agreed to establish a joint academic institute and expand scholarship opportunities as a step to strengthen ties in the field of higher education between the two countries.

Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Zambry Abdul Kadir said the Malaysia-Turkey institute would be established at the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) and the University of Malaya (UM), while an institution would be identified in Turkey.

"The establishment of the institute is among the important outcomes of the bilateral meeting at the Second Malaysia-Turkey Joint Committee (JC) Meeting with UM also signing an official understanding as part of efforts to realise the establishment of the institute.

"The establishment of the Malaysia-Turkey Institute will be an important platform in expanding academic cooperation, research and exchange of expertise involving both countries," he told reporters after the Second Malaysia-Turkey JC Meeting here today.

The Second JC Meeting, which took place from today until Thursday, was attended by the highest management of higher education in Malaysia and Turkey, led by the president of the Turkish Higher Education Council (YOK), Professor Erol Ozvar, as well as several vice-chancellors and university rectors from both countries.

Commenting further, Zambry said the Turkish government also expressed its willingness to offer scholarships to Malaysian students, which is expected to increase student mobility between the two countries.

Meanwhile, he said Malaysia also plans to send more students to leading universities in Turkey with expertise in fields such as aerospace, technology and research.

He said currently, the number of Malaysian students in Turkey is still small at around 272, but efforts will be intensified to increase participation in various critical fields while 107 Turkish students are currently studying in Malaysia.

Zambry said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi also supported the proposal to expand access for Malaysian students including from Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL) and Maktab Rendah Sains MARA (MRSM) to pursue their studies in Turkey.

According to him, the collaboration will also focus on key areas such as artificial intelligence, engineering, petroleum technology and sustainable development by leveraging the strengths of both countries.

Meanwhile, Ozvar said that moving forward, more opportunities will be opened for Malaysian students to pursue studies in Turkey on a wider scale.

“Malaysian students are welcomed to enroll in Turkish universities across disciplines, including medicine, engineering and healthcare,” he said while adding that both sides were also keen to increase exchanges of scholars and researchers.

-- BERNAMA