Putrajaya—Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) and Ocean University of China (OUC) has been in strategic collaboration since November 2016 as part of the effort to further expand research and academic programmes in the field of marine science at the international level.

UMT Vice Chancellor Professor Dato’ Dr Nor Aieni Mokhtar said that, as stipulated in the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), collaboration with OUC would be further strengthened with the proposed establishment of UMT-OUC Marine Science Academic Centre in UMT campus.

“At the centre, various activities will be carried out, including Academic staff and student exchange programmes, joint scientific research, high impact academic publications, and annual workshops on Marine Biotechnology, Aquatic Microbiology, Aquaculture, Oceanography, and Ocean Engineering,” she said.

“OUC will provide allocation amounting to 1.5 million Yuan annually for 5 years to fund the joint projects,” she said.

The launching of the UMT-OUC Marine Science Academic Centre will be held on 28 October 2019 at UMT in conjunction with the organizing of a workshop entitled UMT-OUC Workshop on Aquatic Sciences: A Joint Initiative Between Universiti Malaysia Terengganu and Ocean University of China.

The agreement to set up UMT-OUC Marine Science Academic Centre was reached during the official visit by UMT delegates to Qingdao and Tianjin, led by UMT Vice Chancellor, on 3-8 August 2019.  

Other than UMT Vice Chancellor, UMT delegates comprised Institute of Marine Biotechnology Director Associate Professor Dr Yeong Yik Sung, Faculty of Fisheries and Food Science Lecturer Dr Mok Wen Jye, and Strategic Communication Officer Norul Aina Amirah Ab Rahman.

OUC was represented by OUC President Professor Yu Zhigang, OUC Science and Technology Division Professor Li Yan, College of Fisheries Dean Professor Li Qi, College of Marine Science Deputy Dean Professor Wang Min and other academic officers.