2023

1 Sep

Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir launches UCSI’s new institute to train diplomats on science diplomacy and sustainability

Reaching new heights: Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry (fourth from left) and Distinguished Professor Tan Sri Dr Zakri Abdul Hamid, Founding Director of IISDS (fourth from right) during the IISDS launching ceremony at Le Quadri Hotel Kuala Lumpur

KUALA LUMPUR: Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir has launched UCSI University’s International Institute of Science Diplomacy and Sustainability (IISDS).

Led by Distinguished Professor Tan Sri Dr Zakri Abdul Hamid, the Institute will serve as a think tank that connects the scientific community with policymakers in the ASEAN region and beyond.

UCSI’s new institute will focus on environmental diplomacy, global health, food security, as well as international trade and finance.

Its mission is to train a new cadre of young diplomats, government officials and corporate leaders in the art of science diplomacy, and eventually for them to apply this knowledge in international relations such as in multilateral negotiations of treaties which have oversight on global issues.

“I sincerely believe that the establishment of IISDS will be at the forefront of promoting scientific dialogues and stimulating discussions among experts, scholars and policymakers,” said Datuk Zambry.

“In more than seven decades since its creation, the United Nations (UN) has added on new challenges such as climate change, sustainability challenges and other environmental issues which became the central stage of the world diplomacy today.”

Datuk Zambry added that the establishment of IISDS is a timely measure as it is important to address the predicaments that the world is currently facing collectively and urgently.

He also offered the cooperation from Institute for Diplomacy and Foreign Relations (IDFR) and looked forward to future collaborations with IISDS.

Prof Zakri said that the art of science diplomacy between political leaders, policymakers and scientists has the potential to result in reasonable solutions as he believed that sustainability challenges require multilateral cooperation.

“No country will be able to solve these problems on its own. The tools, techniques and tactics of foreign policy need to adapt to a world of increasing scientific and technical complexity,” he said.

UCSI University scored the highest marks in the sustainability criterion among all private universities in Malaysia in the competitive annual rankings.

UCSI is the only Malaysian university that runs two Regional Centres of Expertise (RCE) to promote sustainable development at the local level by the United Nations University – the academic and research arm of the UN.

Based in Kuala Lumpur and Kuching, the two RCEs promote Quality Education (SDG 4), Clean Water and Sanitation (SDG 6), Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG 11), Climate Action (SDG 13), Life on Land (SDG 15), as well as Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions (SDG 16).