USM AND NYCU EXPLORE COLLABORATION ON DUAL DEGREE PROGRAMME IN ENGINEERING

NIBONG TEBAL, 7 August 2026 - Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Engineering Campus (KKTSS) Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) today received a courtesy visit from the National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University (NYCU), Taiwan, to discuss the proposed implementation of a Dual Degree Programme in engineering.

The NYCU delegation, led by Associate Professor Dr. Wei Sea Chang, was welcomed by the Campus Director, Professor Ir. Dr. Mariatti Jaafar @ Mustapha.

The meeting was a continuation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) established between USM, through the Collaborative Microelectronic Design Excellence Centre (CEDEC), and NYCU.

Discussions focused on strengthening the existing collaboration through a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) to facilitate the implementation of dual degree programmes at the Master's and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) levels between the two institutions.

Among the postgraduate programmes identified with strong potential for collaboration were the Master of Science in Electronic System Design Engineering, Master of Science in Microelectronic Engineering, Master of Science in Materials Engineering, and Master of Science in Advanced Manufacturing Engineering with Management.

The discussion also covered USM's new Master of Science in Semiconductor with Artificial Intelligence (AI) programme, which is expected to be introduced next year.

According to Professor Mariatti, strategic collaborations of this nature not only strengthen USM's international academic network but also provide greater opportunities for students and researchers to gain global learning and research experience.

She added that semiconductors and advanced technologies have become key priorities in the nation's development agenda.

Therefore, collaboration with a leading institution such as NYCU will support efforts to produce highly skilled talent capable of meeting industry demands while further strengthening the country's research and innovation ecosystem.

Meanwhile, Dr. Wei Sea Chang shared NYCU's experience in implementing dual degree programmes with several Malaysian universities, highlighting a collaborative model that integrates coursework and research at both institutions under joint academic supervision.

He also explained that NYCU offers various forms of support to international students, including financial assistance during their research attachment in Taiwan, as well as opportunities to conduct research within its world-class semiconductor ecosystem.

To realise the proposed collaboration, both parties also discussed key implementation aspects, including curriculum alignment, credit transfer, student selection, and the necessary approval processes at the university and the Ministry of Higher Education levels.

Also present at the discussion were CEDEC Director, Professor Dr. Asrulnizam Abd Manaf, and the Dean of the School of Mechanical Engineering, Associate Professor Dr. Abdullah Aziz Saad.

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