IIUM And Iraqi Government Sign Two MoUs

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 27 (Bernama) -- The International Islamic University of Malaysia (IIUM) and the Iraqi government signed two Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) to establish joint working arrangements in the areas of academic, economic and human development, Thursday. The MoUs were signed by IIUM Rector Prof Zaleha Kamaruddin and Iraq Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Ali Mohammed Ali Al-Adeeb, and Minister of Planning, Prof Dr Ali Y. Al-Shukri. Also present was Iraq's Ambassador to Malaysia, Dr. Amal Moussa Hussein. The parties to the MoU will collaborate in the fields of research, academic and student exchange programmes and any other field mutually agreed upon. Ali Mohammed said the cooperation would provide a roadmap to achieve common goals, and also assist Iraq to rebuild their country. "Iraq was once a centre of knowledge but because of the turmoil we have experienced, it is now in need of your help. This MoU will mark the beginning of many fruitful cooperation," he said. "Initially, we planned to have this MoU with the Malaysian Ministry of Higher Education but due to the importance of this university, we have chosen to sign this MoU first and then sign a general MoU with the ministry later," he said after the signing ceremony here. Meanwhile, Zaleha said the five-year framework of cooperation consisted of comprehensive measures to enhance cooperation. "According to our discussions, we would cooperate on research, innovation and scientific research with the Ministry of Higher Education, and focus on architecture and environmental design with the Ministry of Planning," she said. The MoUs include collaboration between IIUM and well established universities in Iraq on academic and academic research, research and development in areas of planning, expertise exchange on planning and quality management systems, and joint research and consulting activities. The memorandums also covers training for staff development between the two parties and student internships. -- BERNAMA