KUALA LUMPUR: Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) signed an extension memorandum of agreement (MoA) with Lancaster University, United Kingdom, to strengthen cooperation in the education sector of both countries.
UKM, in a statement today, announced the agreement was the initiative of the Faculty of Education in collaboration with the Centre for Shaping Advanced and Professional Education (UKMShape) for a dual master's degree in Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL) and Applied Linguistics.
UKM Vice-Chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Mohd Ekhwan Toriman said the collaboration is a meaningful opportunity for students because although the focus of learning is English in the context of a second language, they will also be exposed to the environment of English as the first language in the United Kingdom.
"This collaboration will also increase UKM's prominence at the international level in the field of TESL Education with linguistics knowledge gained directly from language experts at Lancaster University.
"By leveraging the expertise of renowned academics and researchers from Lancaster University, UKM can produce local graduates who are globally competitive.
"Several educational and teaching activities have been conducted such as international conferences, research visits and the organisation of the International Summer School with TESOL Component," he said in a statement today.
He said the collaboration had started in 2021, adding that the initiative aligns with the call of the Minister of Higher Education, Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir, for a paradigm shift to internationalise the country's education to ensure the quality of Malaysia's higher education system on the global stage.
"This agreement will significantly impact the country, especially the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) and UKM, strengthening the university's internationalisation agenda.
"This initiative shows UKM's commitment in strengthening international relations in the field of higher education and contributing to the global development of knowledge and technology," he said.
Mohd Ekhwan emphasised that the collaboration will also increase UKM's opportunities to produce competitive graduates and academic staff with opportunities to interact globally through mobility or capacity-building programmes.
He said it would also boost the cross-cultural programme, leading to economic generation for both countries.
The exchange of agreement documents was held at the High Commission of Malaysia in London yesterday between Mohd Ekhwan and Prof Jonathan Culpeper representing Lancaster University's Global Pro-Vice Chancellor, witnessed by Zambry and the Malaysian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Datuk Zakri Jaafar.– Bernama
