The Principal of the Al-Maktoum Institute, Professor Malory Nye sets off today (Wednesday, March 16) on a two-week programme involving visits to four countries.
First stop is Malaysia where he will formally sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Institute and the International Islamic University of Malaysia. This will be the second such MoU in Malaysia, the first being with the University of Malaya.
The Institute recognises the importance and value of international academic co-operation between universities, and active engagement in a wider international scholarly community by members of academic institutions.
“Clearly, this latest MoU will form another invaluable partnership as it can help the Institute strengthen its ties with Malaysia in a number of key areas such as staff and student exchanges, joint projects, and joint programme planning,” said Professor Nye.
“As a result, I am extremely pleased to be able to sign the MoU with the International Islamic University of Malaysia.”
While in that country, Professor Nye will also attend a major international Higher Education recruitment exhibition organised by the British Council, an event attended last year by Dr Alhagi Manta Drammeh, Head of Department.
“We will be extremely pleased if more students come here to study with us as a result of our attendance at such exhibitions, which are excellent forums for discussion and exchanging information,” said the Principal.
“There is a great deal of interest from students in South-east Asia in the programmes we are offering,” said Professor Nye.
Whilst in Malaysia he will also be visiting the University of Malaya, where he will be discussing ideas and projects for extending the Institute’s collaboration further.
The next stage of the trip involves three days in Brunei where he will visit the Sultan Sharif Ali Islamic University (UNISSA) – a newly established university in the Sultanate – along with the University of Brunei Darussalam (UBD.)
“It will be intriguing to visit UNISSA where, once again, collaborative programmes will be among many of the issues discussed,” said Professor Nye. “I am looking forward to this opportunity to promote the Institute for the first time in Brunei.”
En route back to Scotland, the Principal also has a series of meetings in Singapore and Dubai.
“Overall, the Institute has benefited from similar overseas’ visits and meetings and I am sure further strong connections, and greater interest in the Institute will result from this one,” said Professor Nye.
“We have a truly international perspective and our aim is to bring the world to study in Dundee. Any visit, such as this one, will hopefully result in more students coming to study at the Al-Maktoum Institute in the future.”
