12 June 2010

Malaysia-Japan International Institute of Technology finds home with UTM

The much-delayed, slightly re-named 'Malaysia-Japan International Institute of Technology' (M-JIIT) seems to be taking steps forward in 2010 towards full-blown establishment. The reasons are a top university in Malaysia, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), will host and oversee the institute, and the government of Malaysia is stepping up with a RM 300 million grant to fund it. UTM has been a leader in HE in Malaysia at international cooperation with Japanese universities, so it was deemed as the most suitable institution to host the M-JIIT.

For more details and background information see the links and texts below:   

http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v5/newsindex.php?id=504913

And in order to upgrade technical programmes in line with industry requirements, the Malaysia-Japan International Institute of Technology will be established as an independent institute under Universiti Teknologi Malaysia.

http://web.utm.my/skpost/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=1490

Japanese tech institute for Johor     
   
Tuesday, 08 June 2010
The first Japanese-based technological institute will be set up in the state with over 10 post-graduate courses being lined up. The Malaysia-Japan International Institute of Technology is expected to be placed at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) and under purview of the university, said Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Khaled Nordin. The setting up of the institute is the result of an agreement between our Government and the Japanese Government,” he said, adding that the matter was discussed during the visit by the Prime Minister to Japan two weeks ago. Khaled said the courses would allow students to learn about Japanese technology, especially those related to the field of engineering. We have obtained the support of several Japanese companies which will provide the institute with equipment. Besides, we are in the process of discussing student placement and attachment programmes for both countries,” he said at a press conference after attending a community development workshop in Pasir Gudang. Source: The Star, May 9th, 2010

http://web.utm.my/skpost/index2.php?option=content&task=view&id=1363&pop=1&page=0

UTM honoured with Japanese Commendation Award      
  
Friday, 04 December 2009

UTM’s outstanding contributions in promoting mutual understanding and friendship between Japan and Malaysia gained recognition when it was awarded “The Japanese Foreign Minister's Commendation Award” at a dinner ceremony at the residence of the Japanese Ambassador to Malaysia, His Excellency, Masahiko Horie on November 25th, 2009. The UTM Vice Chancellor Prof. Dato’ Zaini Ujang in his acceptance speech stressed that as part of its internationalization initiatives, UTM has the most number and high-impact initiatives ranging from research collaboration and publications, staff and student exchanges, joint academic programmes and seminars with universities from Japan compared to other universities around the world. The good rapport between UTM and Japanese universities has been strengthened further to greater heights.

Other initiatives include research collaborations with Tokyo University and Kyoto University, and a joint MBA programme with Meiji University. UTM has also signed Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with more than seven Japanese universities since 1991. Among these are Meiji University, Toyama University, Tokushima University, Shibaura Institute of Technology, Tokai University, Nagaoka Institute of Technology, and Nagoya Institute of Technology. In addition, several collaborative agreements with other universities are in the pipeline such as with Kyushu University and Hiroshima University.

Zaini further highlighted that the Japanese government has also long supported Malaysian academics in a number of ways. The Japan Society for the Promotion of Science or JSPS was one of the earliest Japanese organisations that has supported joint academic research with Malaysian universities and many Malaysian academics have benefited from such programmes. “The Japan Foundation and Japan Science and Technology (JST) are examples of organisations that have supported the mobility of experts between the two countries for many years already. In addition there have been a number of Japanese companies that have also supported our universities in providing scholarships and fellowships for higher degrees and joint research such as Hitachi and Panasonic. “UTM is also proud because due to the strong collaboration with Meiji University, the university had awarded Honorary Doctorates to two of our Prime Ministers when they were still in office, Y. A. B. Tun Dr. Mahathir, and Y. A. B. Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi,” he said.

In addition, UTM is the only university in Malaysia that has a Japanese University setting up its satellite office at the university. In December 2006 Meiji University launched its satellite office at the UTM International Campus in Kuala Lumpur. Resulting from this, several other universities have expressed interest to set up their satellite offices in UTM including Shibaura Institute of Technology, Tokyo University and also Hiroshima University. UTM has also supported the Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Japan in the establishment of the Malaysia-Japan University Center (MJUC). Due to UTM’s collaboration with many Japanese universities, the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) of Malaysia had identified UTM as the most appropriate university to set up the Malaysia-Japan International Institute of Technology or MJIIT.

A cabinet paper is now underway for the approval of the G-to-G project to set up a Malaysia-Japan Institute in UTM with a RM300 million grant. If this is approved by the Malaysian cabinet, there will soon be more Japanese professors in UTM and several joint programmes will be realized for the benefit of our students and Malaysians in general. UTM is also proud to be the host for the PPKTJ (Preparatory Programme for Japanese Technical Collaboration) which has been conducted in UTM for more than fifteen (15) years. Many students have graduated from Japanese universities and colleges under this programme.
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