KUALA LUMPUR: Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP) and Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the University of Surrey (UoS) on the sharing of expertise and technology.

       The signing ceremony was held in Surrey, United Kingdom, and witnessed by Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Noraini Ahmad.

       In a statement issued here on Friday (May 27), Noraini said apart from sharing of expertise and technology, the MoU was also on the development of professional and academic staff and promotion and training programmes for students and staff.

       "I hope the signing of the MoU between the Malaysian universities and UoS can strengthen the internationalisation of higher education in both countries," she said in her speech at the signing ceremony.

       In the same statement, UoS president and vice-chancellor Prof Max Lu said the achievement by UoS in global research and education had changed lives and made the world a better place, and these efforts were further strengthened by international partnerships.

       "Such a collaboration will help us increase our international reach and world-class research in support of the Malaysian government's higher education objectives, as stated in the Malaysia Education Development Plan 2015-2025 (Higher Education).

       "The collaboration in the 'Animal Neighbours Project' is one example on how the UoS research has had a positive impact on the world on major challenges such as sustainability and biodiversity," he said. - Bernama