MIRI: Curtin University Malaysia (Curtin Malaysia) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Pavlodar Pedagogical University Named After Alkey Margulan (Margulan University) in Kazakhstan, marking a significant step in strengthening global academic ties and fostering innovation in sustainable technology.
The MoU, signed at Curtin Malaysia’s Miri campus, establishes a strategic collaboration encompassing research, academic exchange, and cross-cultural engagement.
Both institutions are committed to creating borderless opportunities for students, researchers, and their wider communities.
The Margulan University delegation, comprising Rector, Professor Yerzhan Amirbekuly, Vice-Rector for Research, Professor Bauyrzhan Yessengeldin, and Head of the Internationalisation Office, Aidana Algazinova, were welcomed by Professor Tuong-Thuy Vu, Acting Deputy Pro Vice-Chancellor and Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Science, representing Professor Vincent Lee, Interim Pro Vice-Chancellor President and Chief Executive of Curtin Malaysia.
Also in attendance were Professor Roy Rillera Marzo, Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Health Sciences, members of his faculty, and Nicholas Leong, Manager of Corporate Affairs.
Marzo’s involvement extends to an ongoing megaresearch project with Margulan University, entitled ‘Creation of a Comprehensive Scientific and Innovative Environment for the Training of Teachers for the Development of Gifted Children in Kazakhstan’.
In a message delivered by Vu, Lee described the agreement as a foundation for a forward-looking partnership.
He emphasised the collaboration’s role in enhancing academic and research capacity, supporting the shared vision of an entrepreneurial ecosystem focused on sustainable technologies.
He highlighted Curtin Malaysia’s status as Curtin University’s largest international campus and a regional leader in higher education, commending Margulan University’s reputation for educational reform, innovation and global engagement.
A key element of the partnership is the joint ambition to incubate Sarawak-based startups dedicated to sustainable development.
Lee stated that the aim is to nurture talent and technology to address pressing challenges across Asia and beyond.
Amirbekuly expressed confidence in the partnership’s potential to foster transformative learning and research, and looks forward to collaborative pathways connecting cultures, advancing knowledge, and empowering future leaders.
The MoU is expected to facilitate student and staff exchanges, joint research initiatives, curriculum development, and collaborative events promoting intercultural understanding and innovation.
