UTAR signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding with the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) to signal the start of a strategic partnership in academic development and research.

In the presence of Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik, Chairman of UTAR Council, Tan Sri Datuk Dr Ng Lay Swee, President and CEO of UTAR and Professor Peter Coaldrake, Vice-Chancellor of QUT, signed on behalf of their respective universities.

UTAR's long standing relationship with QUT had its beginnings when QUT first made contact with Kolej Tunku Abdul Rahman (KTAR). It is a relationship that has continued, developed and deepened with time. Prior to the MOU, UTAR and QUT senior officials had been meeting from time to time to discuss and explore potential and common grounds for teaching-cum-research collaboration, particularly in the areas of biotechnology and information technology.

For the past year, UTAR and QUT had jointly organized a series of workshops and public seminars on biotechnology and adult education at the UTAR Petaling Jaya Campus.

In just March of this year, QUT conferred on Tan Sri Datuk Dr Ng Lay Swee, UTAR President and CEO, its highest award, the Honorary Degree of Doctor in recognition of her role in developing links between UTAR and QUT, and her contribution to Malaysian education.

Furthermore, in participative support of UTAR's commitment to academic development, QUT is offering two International Doctoral Scholarships to qualified UTAR staff.

Indeed, QUT's reputation, experience and head start in research as one of Australia's leading universities are strengths that UTAR will tap into under the MOU. Both institutions are confident that collaboration in the specific areas of joint effort will be most mutually beneficial.

Currently, UTAR is getting ready to begin operations for its Institute of Postgraduate Studies and Research in 2005. This MOU with QUT is timely as UTAR welcomes collaborative work on the academic and research levels from the more established universities of international stature.

UTAR's collaborative efforts with QUT will also include educational tours and exchange programmes for both staff and students. For a start, plans for UTAR undergraduates to visit QUT on an educational tour in November 2004 are already underway. The 10 Sept 2004 MOU between UTAR and QUT is yet another manifestation of UTAR's vision to globalize the reach of its graduates.

For the record, UTAR's first student overseas educational tour to three leading universities in China, Fudan University and Jiao Tong University in Shanghai and Wanli University in Ningbo will also be in September 2004.