Dr Haji Kasim (left) and Dr Hiroko during the MoU signing ceremony.
KOTA KINABALU: Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) yesterday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the University of Kochi to explore potential cooperation in the area of food service and nutrition.
UMS vice chancellor Professor Datuk Dr Mohd Harun Abdullah who was represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (HEPA), Professor Madya Datuk Dr Haji Kasim Haji Md Mansur, said in his speech that the MoU was hoped to strengthen and form a mutually beneficial and strategic future partnership between the two universities as well as enable student internship or student industrial training through student exchange between UMS and University of Kochi.
“UMS students are given industrial practical training attachment as it is UMS mission to produce graduates that meet the demands of the job market. This is in line with the vision and strategy set by the Ministry of Higher Education.
“Educational institutions are responsible for imparting basic and essential knowledge to students and must work together with parties from private sector/industry to train and equip them with real-life practical skills,” he said.
He added that the student exchange programmes between UMS and University of Kochi would not only provide educational enrichment but also promote a better understanding between students from Malaysia and Japan.
Furthermore, it will expose students to the rich culture, tradition and language of both countries and foster a greater appreciation for it, he said.
He said that the exchange of academic staff/faculty was another potential area for collaboration.
“This will serve as a platform for academicians to brainstorm ideas that would be conducive to academic career enrichment and advancement. This will promote effective and valuable knowledge generation, sharing and transfer between faculty of both universities,” he said.
Dr Harun also said that research collaboration between universities can be established and the collaboration will facilitate effective utilisation of individual expertise and transfer of knowledge and skills.
Additionally, the MoU would also provide the platform for exchange of academic publications and educational materials; joint research projects, academic conference, training, seminar and symposium, he said.
“We believe that this MoU will serve as a starting point for us to work strategically together in the near future in areas of mutual interest between the two universities,” he said.
President of the University of Kochi, Dr Hiroko Minami, in her speech, said the MoU between the two universities would bear fruits and would open doors to many possibilities and opportunities for students, faculty, researchers and those who engage in exchange activities.
She added that the University of Kochi began operating in 1944, and focused on health care.
It became the first university in its country to offer a baccalaureate degree in Nursing.
Recently, the university embarked on the provision of training for dietitians to expand the areas of expertise and improve overall quality of health care services.
“Since 2003, the university has produced dietitians who are at the forefront of ensuring safety of and nutrition in food for children, the sick, the elderly in schools, hospitals and nursing homes … Currently, the university offers various undergraduate degrees in nutrition, nursing, social welfare, health science, and cultural studies. We also offer graduate programmes in nursing, human life science and human health and grants master’s and doctorate degrees,” she said.
She also said that the university had opened the Centre of Health and Longevity to find a better way to cope with and serve the aging population.
She said that it was his sincere hope that both the universities would expand their efforts to develop systematic and collaborative researches in nature disasters.
“Combined with the natural scientific researches done at UMS and medical knowledge at University of Kochi, we can provide more comprehensive and complete care to the public in case of disaster,” she said.