DEPUTY HIGHER EDUCATION MINISTER SEEKS MALAYSIA-SURABAYA HIGHER EDUCATION COOPERATION

By Mohd Iswandi Kasan Anuar

JAKARTA, June 26 (Bernama) -- Deputy Minister of Higher Education Datuk Mustapha Sakmud paid a courtesy call to the Acting Secretary of the East Java Region, Dr. Bobby Soemiarsono, to explore potential educational cooperation between Malaysia and Surabaya.

The meeting took place at the Surabaya government office, Gedung Negara Grahadi, on Tuesday in conjunction with his official working visit to the region. He was accompanied by Ambassador Datuk Syed Md Hasrin Tengku Hussin and Deputy Secretary-General (Management and Development) of the ministry, Mohamad Azhan Md Amir.

“We discussed about potential cooperation between Malaysian and Surabaya universities in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) research programmes, as well as student and lecturer exchange programmes,” Mustapa wrote in a social media post.

The deputy minister was in Surabaya to give moral support for the country’s athletes competing in the Asean University Games (AUG) 2024, which was officiated by Indonesia’s Youth and Sports Minister Ario Bimo Nandito Ariotedjo, on Tuesday night at the International Basketball Arena of  Universiti Negeri Surabaya. 

In a brief video, Mustapha expressed optimism: "If badminton has the Sidek brothers, in pétanque, we have the Syed Ali children. All the best at AUG 2024 Surabaya, Indonesia."

During his visit, Mustapha also met Malaysian students from Universiti Airlangga who is pursuing medicine, dentistry and veterinary courses to learn about their experiences and the development there. 

“I’m impressed by the high spirit and dedication shown by our students in pursuing academic excellence and self development.

“They not only strive for success in their studies, but have been active in activities that would build their character and leadership,” he noted. 

-- BERNAMA