PEKAN: Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP) has signed a second cooperation agreement with Germany's Mannheim University of Applied Sciences (HMA), following a successful collaboration in the business engineering programme last year.
As a member of the Malaysian Technological University Network, UMP will now offer a Chemical Engineering dual-degree programme with HMA, one of Germany's leading research universities.
UMP's assistant vice-chancellor (centre for corporate and quality affairs) Professor Ts. Dr. Kamal Yusoh said the latest partnership will enhance public trust in UMP's quality as a higher education institution, particularly in chemical and process engineering.
"The scientific and technological expertise of both universities will contribute significantly to the exchange of experts, research development, training and providing valuable exposure to the undergraduates.
"The joint venture will pave the way for more collaborations in knowledge-sharing, engineering, technology, and scientific expertise, enhancing the marketability and competency of UMP graduates. The partnership will also include joint research and facility sharing to promote mutual benefits," he said in a statement today.
During the cooperation agreement signing ceremony which was conducted through video conferencing last week, Kamal and UMP's Chemical and Process Engineering Technology faculty dean, Professor Ts. Dr. Che Ku Mohammad Faizal Che Ku Yahya represented UMP, while HMA was represented by its Rector, Professor Dr. Astrid Hedtke-Becker and Head of International Office, Ann Müller.
Meanwhile, Hedtke-Becker expressed her excitement about the partnership, saying that it would strengthen the existing ties between the two universities, particularly after the successful collaboration in the Business Engineering programme in February last year.
"The signing of the cooperation agreement will see both universities offering undergraduate exchange in the Chemical Engineering dual-degree programme, starting from September next year.
"The dual-degree programmes, namely Bachelor of Chemical Engineering with Honours at the Chemical and Process Engineering Technology faculty in UMP and Bachelor of Sciences in Process Engineering offered by the Process and Chemical Engineering faculty at HMA, forms the foundation of the cooperation," she said.