UMT board meeting to discuss proposed merger with UniSZA

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 11 -- The proposed merger between Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) and Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA) is expected to discussed at the UMT board of directors meeting scheduled for Friday.

Its chairman Tan Sri Dr Halim Mohammad said the board would deliberate on the Cabinet's decision on this matter and how the merger would take place going forward.

"It's my view that the merger will bring the best (from both universities). Since the Cabinet has in principle agreed (to the merger), we at the university must take the decision positively and I believe that given the capability of both institutions, it will benefit the students,” he told a press conference here today.

A statement issued by the Office of the Director-General of Higher Education in Putrajaya today said that the report on the proposed merger was expected to be completed within the next six months.

It was reported that the Cabinet on Sept 4 had in principle agreed to the move which would strengthen the capacity of both universities in line with the 10 shifts of the Malaysia Education Blueprint 2015-2025 (Higher Education).

Halim also said that UMT staff and students should not worry as the government's decision on the matter would surely take into account their interests.



-- BERNAMA