RESEARCH COLLABORATION: Manyin (second left) witnesses the exchange of MoA between Unimas, represented by Mohamad Kadim (left), and Labbe representing University of Limoges. Also seen is Peter (right). The signing ceremony took place during EnCon 2013. — Bernama photo.
KUCHING: Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) signed a memorandum of agreement (MoA) on a joint PhD programme with University of Limoges, France yesterday.
The collaboration will see Unimas’ Engineering PhD candidate Dayang Salyani Abang Mahmod take up research on Low Temperature and High Conductivity Ceramic Ionic Conductors for Solid Oxide Fuel Cells under joint supervision of Limoges University’s Prof Dr Jean Claude Labbe and Dr Nicolas Glandut, and Unimas’ Prof Dr Amir Azam Khan and Dr Magdalene Andrew Munot.
The MoA follows a general memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed on Jan 17, 2008 by French Member-HEI’s (Higher Education Institutes), Unimas and 10 other Malaysian universities.
The MoA defines the main activities and precise topic of research outlined under the previous MoU.
The MoA between Unimas and University of Limoges was signed by Unimas vice-chancellor Prof Dato Dr Mohamad Kadim Suhaidi and Labbe. Second signatories were the university’s Faculty of Engineering dean, Prof Dr Wan Hashim Wan Ibrahim and Glandut.
The signing took place after the opening of the Sixth International Engineering Conference (EnCon 2013) at Hilton Hotel. It was organised by Unimas’ Faculty of Engineering.
Infrastructure Development and Communication Minister Dato Sri Michael Manyin Jawong witnessed the signing. Also present was Unimas deputy vice-chancellor Prof Dr Peter Songan, “The University of Limoges has been declared a technopole (technology pole) in the fields of Micro Electronics, Advanced Materials and Water Resource Science by the French government.
“The university’s Laboratory of Ceramic Processing Science and Surface treatment is a specialised research laboratory in Ceramics and Surface Engineering. More than 250 scientists and researchers are linked to this laboratory, a scientific hub in Europe. The laboratory is also conducting research on materials for renewable energy,” Mohamad Kadim said.
Unimas also signed an MoA with Dermaga Builders Sdn Bhd to transfer to industry and society the product of research on clean water from green technology.
This collaboration binds the two organisations to a venture in manufacturing water treatment machinery for industrial and domestic applications, explore potential engineering consultancy project in these areas by bringing together research skills and business experience, along with future development in water treatment technology and machinery.
The MoA between Unimas and Dermaga Builders was signed by Mohamad Kadim and the company’s executive chairman Dato Che Mat Wanik. Second signatories were Wan Hashim and Dermaga Builders’ managing director Mohd Hafeez Che Mat.
Unimas also signed an MoU with Universiti Tenaga Nasional (Uniten). Unimas was represented by Mohamad Kadim and Uniten by its vice-chancellor Dato Seri Prof Mashkuri Yaacob.
Second signatories were directors of the Centre of Excellence for both universities namely Unimas director of Centre of Excellence for renewable Energy (CoERE), Assoc Prof Dr Azhaili Baharun and Uniten director of Centre of Renewable Energy (CRE), Prof Dr Abdul Halim Shamsuddin.
“The signing of this MoU will enable both universities to plan cooperation in renewable energy, promoting cooperation in areas such as research collaboration in Biomass, Bio-Fuel and Solar Thermal Power Generation,” said Mohamad Kadim.
Other collaborations included joint facilitation and supervision of postgraduate studies, exchange of academic staff, joint research, teaching activities and student exchange programmes.