Nilai U and UPM enter into an MOU for quality control, staff-training, joint-research and double awards.
Nilai University (Nilai U) and Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding for academic collaboration. The MOU will permit arrangements for the conferment of dual and double awards by both institution. The first such arrangement is for a Master’s in Agricultural management. Students who complete a Master’s programme in one university may opt to complete additional modules at the other university to obtain a second Master’s award.
Nilai University will draw on the expertise of its current Biotechnology department and Business faculty as well as that of its shareholder, Felda Global Ventures (FGV) Holdings Berhad, to develop the Master of Business Administration in Tropical Plant Management programme.
The agreement will also see both institutions working closely in areas such as student exchange, internship, research and academic attachments.
The MOU was signed by Prof. Dato’ Dr Mohd Fauzi Ramlan, the Vice-Chancellor of UPM and Prof. Dato’ Dr Sothi Rachangan, the Vice-Chancellor of Nilai U. It was witnessed by Muhammad Hudhaifa Ahmad (Nilai U Council member and Vice President, Head of Division, Group Corporate Strategy, Felda Global Ventures Holdings Berhad) and Prof Dr Bujang K Huat (Dean of UPM School of Graduate Studies).
According to Nilai U Vice-Chancellor, Prof Dato’ Dr Sothi Rachagan, the MOU was a culmination of years of working closely with UPM. He highlighted the crucial role played by UPM’s then Graduate School of Management in helping Nilai U develop its Bachelor and Master of Business Administration programmes.
Prof Sothi also thanked Prof Fauzi for his generous support for student development programmes organised by Nilai U including the Future Leaders Camp, 1World Culture and Youth Empowerment Symposium held each year.
Prof Fauzi hopes that this MoU will encourage greater co-operation between private and public institutions. “Under research and development, we are working on the National Blue Ocean Strategy. We are looking to have more (academic) papers to be jointly published and we are also looking to work closely in the field of hospitality. Primarily, our focus now is in the area of agriculture,” he said.
Nilai U is jointly owned by Nilai Resources Group and Felda Global Ventures Berhad (FGV). The association with FELDA and FGV saw the development of a Diploma in Agricultural Management for the benefit for FELDA staff and scholars. The MBA in Tropical Plantation Management will be geared towards meeting the needs of FELDA scholars. Having been established in 1997 in response to the government’s call to make the country into a regional education hub, Nilai U has been successfully cultivating programmes in niche areas such as aircraft maintenance engineering and agricultural management.
(L-R) Prof Dr Bujang Kim Huat (Dean of UPM School of Graduate Studies), Prof. Dato’ Dr Mohd Fauzi Ramlan (Vice-Chancellor of UPM), Prof. Dato’ Dr Sothi Rachangan (Vice-Chancellor of Nilai U), and Muhammad Hudhaifa Ahmad (Nilai U Council member and Head of Group Corporate Strategy Planning, Felda Global Ventures Holdings Bhd).
