On 30th September 2020, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Universitas Bung Hatta , Indonesia (UBH) which took place virtually using an online application from Bangunan Canseleri UiTM. This MoU is a continuation of the previous MoU which was signed in 2017 and ended on 10 August 2020 recently.
The MoU was signed by UiTM Vice Chancellor, Professor Emeritus Datuk Ir Dr Mohd Azraai Kassim and witnessed by FSPU’s Deputy Dean (Research & Industrial Linkages), Professor Datin Sr Dr Hamimah Adnan and FSPU Deputy Dean (Student Affairs), Sr Dr Mohamad Sufian Hasim and also celebrated by representatives from the same faculty, who are actively involved in bilateral activities that have been carried out over the years.
Meanwhile, on behalf of UBH, this MoU was signed by the Rector of UBH, Professor Dr Tafdil Husni and graced by the presence of the Deans and representatives from the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Planning, Faculty of Culture and Faculty of Industrial Technology.
“Despite the constraints due to the spread of the Covid-19 epidemic that hit the world today, we can meet together virtually to sign the MoU extension between UiTM and Universitas Bung Hatta, Indonesia,” said Professor Emeritus Datuk Ir Dr Mohd Azraai Kassim in his welcome speech.
He added, “This MoU extension aims to continue the academic cooperation that has been built between UiTM and Universitas Bung Hatta since 2017 in the field of conservation and post-disaster.”
During the first three years of the MoU, many activities have been performed successfully. Apart from public lectures from UiTM and UBH lecturers, among the activities that have been organized include academic visits and fieldwork of UBH students to the Klang-Johor-Singapore Valley in January 2018, academic visits of FSPU students from the Centre of Studies for Building Surveying and Master in Heritage and Conservation Management which involves the fieldwork of Rumah Gadang conservation and the conservation of Kota Tuo Padang. Apart from conservation activities, the Centre of Studies for Quantity Surveying also benefited from the reciprocal activities that have been carried out during the last MoU.
The activities implemented during the last MoU period have succeeded in strengthening the bilateral relationship between UiTM staff and UBH staff. The MoU has become a platform for exchanging ideas as well as strengthening friendships among the archipelago group as well as cultivating noble values through the conducted programs.
Professor Emeritus Datuk Ir Dr Mohd Azraai Kassim hopes that the MoU will continue to be a platform for the exchange of expertise between the two universities with a brighter opportunity to conduct joint research in aspects of archipelago architecture and obtain international grants for that purpose.