MOA Signing Ceremony Between Universiti Sains Malaysia and Walailak University

Penang, Malaysia – On the 7th of May 2025, a significant moment in academic collaboration took place as the Centre for Instructional Technology and Multimedia (CITM) at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Penang, hosted a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signing ceremony with the School of Informatics, Walailak University, Thailand. The ceremony, which took place from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM at the CITM meeting room, marked a major milestone in strengthening academic ties between the two institutions.

The event was attended by 15 distinguished faculty members from Walailak University, led by Asst. Prof. Dr. Siriwatchana Kaeophanuek, Dean of the School of Informatics, along with key academic leaders, including Asst. Prof. Dr. Pornpon Thamrongrat, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Dr. Sasithorn Rattanarungrot, Assistant Dean for International Affairs, and other notable faculty members.

The ceremony was also attended by senior officials from Universiti Sains Malaysia, including the Director of CITM, Prof. Dr. Wan Ahmad Jaafar, Deputy Directors Ts. Dr. Mageswaran Sanmugam and Assoc. Prof. Ts. Dr. Nur Azlina, along with other academic staff, support staff, and PhD students.

The MOA outlines various potential research collaborations between the two institutions, with a focus on co-supervising graduate students, which is expected to yield mutual benefits for both universities. Other areas of cooperation discussed include student exchange programs, internship opportunities, and matching grants for joint research projects.

In addition to the MOA signing, Walailak University extended an invitation to Ts. Dr. Mageswaran Sanmugam, Deputy Director of Academic, Career, and International at CITM, to serve as a keynote speaker at their upcoming international conference in June 2025.

This partnership sets the stage for a strengthened academic network, fostering greater research collaboration and academic exchange between the institutions. Both USM and Walailak University are optimistic about the potential outcomes of these partnerships, which promise to enrich their academic and research environments.