USM EXPLORES ACADEMIC COLLABORATION OPPORTUNITIES WITH UNIVERSITÉ DE MONTPELLIER

NIBONG TEBAL, 11 May 2026 - Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), through the Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Engineering Campus, today received a delegation from Université de Montpellier, France for an academic discussion session between the two institutions.

The delegation was led by the Head of the Mechanical Department, Faculty of Sciences, Université de Montpellier, Professor Azéma Emilien, together with five representatives from the university to explore potential bilateral collaboration in the areas of academics, research and international mobility.

The discussion session was a follow-up to earlier discussions previously held with the USM Academic Quality Centre (PKA) through its Director, Ir. Ts. Dr. Mastura Azmi, regarding potential strategic collaboration between the two institutions.

Chairing the session, Director of the USM Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Engineering Campus, Professor Ir. Dr. Mariatti Jaafar @ Mustapha said the visit reflected the commitment of both universities in strengthening a more strategic international academic network.

According to her, such discussions are important in opening opportunities for various forms of collaboration including student and staff exchange, joint research, academic development and expertise sharing between institutions.

Meanwhile, Professor Azéma Emilien explained that the official visit was intended to better understand the processes, structures and requirements related to the implementation of bilateral collaboration between USM and Université de Montpellier.

He added that the visit also aimed to explore potential follow-up actions that could be implemented towards developing a more structured and effective academic collaboration in the future.

In the meantime, Ir. Ts. Dr. Mastura Azmi expressed hope that the discussion session would help improve the smoothness of the official processes required to realise the collaboration between the two institutions.

Also present during the session were the Dean of the School of Materials and Mineral Resources Engineering (SMMRE), Professor Ts. Dr. Zulkifli Mohamad Ariff, as well as representatives from the respective schools involved.

Text: Siti Faizah Abd Halim / Photo: Muhammad Taufik Abdul Rahman