Iran-Malaysia Academic Collaboration Set To Strengthen Decades-Long Ties

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 18 (Bernama) -- The academic and scientific collaboration between Iran and Malaysia is poised to strengthen, reflecting decades of close diplomatic ties and shared aspirations for advancing knowledge and technology in the Islamic world.

The Embassy of Iran in Kuala Lumpur, in a statement, emphasised that this relationship, which dates back to the establishment of Malaysia’s embassy in Tehran in 1968, has matured into one of the closest that Iran shares with any nation in East and Southeast Asia.

A cornerstone of these ties is the mutual emphasis on scientific and academic cooperation, as both nations aim to address contemporary global challenges and revitalise Islamic civilisation through knowledge.

"As highlighted in the concept of Malaysia Madani by the government of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, the importance of creating a better quality of a society requires the promotion of science and the importance of knowledge," said the statement.

The embassy also expressed eagerness to hold joint academic conferences on the importance of science and knowledge between the two countries.

It is prepared to offer scholarships in various university courses for Malaysian students and to establish Persian language and literature chairs in Malaysian universities, alongside Malay language and literature chairs in Iranian institutions.

"Such cooperation can strengthen the academic relations between both countries. Both Malaysia and Iran enjoy good universities that can create excellent capacities in the field of scientific and technological cooperation.

"The academic institutions of both countries play a significant role in developing and strengthening this strategy. Iran's successes in producing knowledge-based innovation in producing new technologies such as nano and biotechnology has been welcomed by the Malaysian scientific communities," the embassy said.

Between 2005 and 2015, more than 20,000 Iranian students were enrolled in Malaysian universities annually. "Most of the graduates of these institutions are now working as executive managers at different levels in Iran and other countries and some are among the very successful lecturers and expatriates in Malaysia," it added.

The embassy highlighted the recent second joint student academic camp held from Nov 4 at the University of Malaya (UM), with the participation of student delegations from the Universities of Isfahan.

"At the same time at this camp, the Iranian academic delegation visited the prestigious universities in Malaysia such as UM, UTM, UiTM, UPM, IIUM and UKM.

"They met the academic leaders of these universities and talked about ways to develop academic cooperation, especially the exchange of professors and students, conducting research and joint university projects, and the development of joint international seminars," it said.

As two leading Islamic countries, Iran and Malaysia can help solve issues such as food security, water management, cultural heritage and Islamic civilisation, crisis management in climate change, artificial intelligence, cyber security and data privacy.

"The unique role and position of the two countries to revive the Islamic civilisation has an undeniable effect on the strengthening of the scientific identity of the Islamic world as well.

"The scientific relations between the two countries will be witnessing a new spirit and progress during the Presidency of Masoud Pezeshkian and Premiership of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim," the statement read.

-- BERNAMA