UKM first public varsity to open branch overseas

KUALA LUMPUR, May 20 (Bernama) -- Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) marked a new chapter in its efforts to make Malaysia the hub of higher education when it became the first public university (UA) to open a branch overseas, namely in Doha, Qatar.

The Ministry of Higher Education (KPT), in a statement, said the intake of the university’s first batch of students will be carried out in October and the Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) signing ceremony on the setting up of the Doha branch yesterday was witnessed by Minister of Higher Education Datuk Seri Dr Noraini Ahmad.

The MoA between UKM and The Regional Group of Qatar, which is a management company in the fields of property development, asset management, agriculture, stock investment and engineering consultancy services in Qatar, is regarded as a success for UKM in being a catalyst for public universities to expand overseas.

Noraini said the inking of the agreement opened a new chapter for Malaysian institutions of higher education to achieve higher levels in terms of research and innovation, teaching and learning, consultancy as well as community development despite facing challenging times due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I am happy that UKM has contributed to that achievement and has taken the next step in expanding its efforts to go international by spreading its wings to Qatar,” he said.

The agreement was signed by UKM vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Mohd Ekhwan Toriman and Regional Group of Qatar chief executive officer Sheikh Abd Rahman bin Khalifa bin Abdul Aziz Al-Thani.

Meanwhile, Mohd Ekhwan said the opening of the UKM branch in Qatar would increase cooperation in consultancy and research as well as course offerings and strengthen the UKM brand in the Gulf countries.

“UKM is proud of this recognition. As a local university, UKM will continue to provide the best educational services worldwide. Through the agreement signed on March 26 (the MoA on programme offerings), UKM agrees to offer offshore undergraduate and postgraduate level programmes in Doha,” he said.

He said The Regional Group will handle programme management, marketing and provide facilities and infrastructure for teaching and learning sessions, while UKM will be responsible for providing academic input involving curriculum, teaching and learning, quality assurance and graduation.

 -- BERNAMA