Australia Seeks to Deepen Research Collaboration with Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR, June 12 (Bernama) -- A group of 21 Australian academicians and researchers are currently visiting Malaysia to study how to strengthen collaboration between Australian and Malaysian universities in the field of research. One of them, Griffith University vice-chancellor Prof Ian O'Connor said Malaysian and Australian researchers should work more closely with each other with a view to enhancing research outcomes. The group, he said, was keen on identifying particular areas of research in which both sides could collaborate. "And we're impressed with the quality and standards of universities developing in Malaysia," he told a press conference at the Australian High Commission here Tuesday. Besides Griffith University, the Australian visitors are from Charles Darwin University, Flinders University, James Cook University, La Trobe University, Murdoch University and University of Newcastle, all of whom are billed as leading innovative research universities. Four memorandums of understanding are expected to be signed between Griffith University and Malaysian institutions of higher learning such as Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Universiti Putra Malaysia and Universiti Malaya. Meanwhile, Australia's senior trade and investment commissioner to Malaysia and Brunei, Elodie Journet, described the group's visit as a unique opportunity to strengthen existing linkages between Australian and Malaysian research universities. "It's also to boost our bilateral cooperation in priority fields such as global warming, infectious diseases, tropical medicine, water and energy security," Journet said. The group's five-day visit to Malaysia ends Friday. Journet also noted that the long-standing bilateral relations between the two countries would be further boosted with the signing of the Malaysia-Australia Free Trade Agreement last month. -- BERNAMA