News

November 11, 2014

Engaging with Asian: IRU signs agreement with Malaysia Research University Network

The Innovative Research Universities (IRU) signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Malaysia Research University Network yesterday 10 November 2014. The Memorandum commits the two groups to stimulate research linkages and to explore the common challenges ahead for teaching and learning.

“Successful partnerships between universities and between nations do not develop overnight. They are the product of a sustained commitment built on the premises of joint engagement and mutual benefit.” Professor John Dewar, Chair of the IRU said.

“Our objective is to address major challenges and issues:

  • in how our research impacts the future development of both our countries and the region and world in which we live; and
  • in the way we deliver our teaching, responding effectively to the opportunities from changing technologies and the changing demands of students and employers”.

The Memorandum was signed in the presence of Yang Berbahagia Dato’ Professor Dr Asma Binti Ismail, Director General, Department of Higher Education of the Ministry of Education who confirmed the importance of the partnership with the IRU.

Yang Berbahagia Datuk Professor. Dr. Mohammad Amin Bin Jalaludin, Vice-Chancellor, University of Malaya signed the Memorandum for the Malaysia Research University Network, witnessed by two of his fellow MRUN Vice-Chancellors.

The IRU is in Malaysia for its third annual delegation strengthening its relationship with the Malaysia Research University Network.

“From our foundation, Innovative Research Universities members have had a focus on nations in Asia in their research effort. Collaborative research has allowed IRU and Asian researchers to address the most pressing issues in our region. It is essential to long term economic prosperity and human development for us all“ Professor Dewar said.

At a workshop on 11 November 2014 the IRU and MRUN delegates will continue development of both programmes to target areas of mutual interest and importance to initiate action under the MOU in 2015. From these we will develop projects of significant impact and benefit to both Malaysia and Australia.

On Wednesday our delegation looks forward to the opportunity to visit UKM and UPM to improve our knowledge of the MRUN members and to follow up the outcomes from the Workshop.