UCSI University Group President & Vice Chancellor Peter Ng, chatting with CYCU President Cheng Wan Lee

Exchange of the MoU documents by CYCU President Cheng Wan Lee & UCSI University Group President & Vice Chancellor Peter Ng

CYCU Exchange Students at the Malacca Riverfront

Kuala Lumpur, 19 September 2008 - UCSI University (UCSIU) and Chung Yuan Christian University (CYCU) of Taiwan today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a partnership that would spearhead research on both sides of the world through the exchange of information, use of facilities and students. The collaboration would bring together two countries, Malaysia and Taiwan, allowing for better understanding in education and research from two different perspectives.

The signing of the MoU is timely, as UCSI University’s expansion which includes a 160-acre flagship campus in Bandar Springhill, Negeri Sembilan, would include research facilities, that would spearhead research and discovery efforts, fields that CYCU and UCSI University are both passionate about. CYCU has also expressed interest to learn more about the Co-Operative Education and Enterprise & Entrepreneurship Zone (2EZ) programmes, which teach students soft skills and cultivate the entrepreneurship spirit that is becoming increasingly important in the globalised world.

The five decade old Taiwanese university also hopes that through the collaboration, they would be able to tap into Malaysia’s rich biodiversity to conduct research, especially in the fields of biotechnology. CYCU has also established a center for nano-technology, which UCSI University is interested in to explore and implement here. Although founded in 1955, CYCU shares many of the same courses that UCSI University offers.

The MoU was signed a day after a delegation of 7 students led by one lecturer from CYCU touched down in Malaysia for a one month study tour of Malaysian landscape and architecture. Their stops include visiting the world heritage sites in the states of Melaka, Penang and a tour of the east coast. The Taiwanese students are especially interested to learn about Malaysia’s approach towards the subject. Their learning experience will culminate with a design presentation at UCSI University.

This partnership is part of UCSI University’s internationalization efforts and is aimed at enriching the student experience by engaging them in active research and knowledge sharing. UCSI University wants its students to be more knowledgeable about local and intercontinental issues. The signing of the MoU is testimony of CYCU and UCSI University’s joint belief that it is only through contact with different world views that both universities will produce competent, confident and consummate graduates who are internationally employable.