By Aimi Mohamad Farid
SERDANG, 14 April – Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) continues to expand its global footprint with an official visit from the Rector of “Dunarea de Jos” University of Galati, Romania, marking a significant step towards strengthening bilateral academic collaboration.
UPM Vice-Chancellor, Dato’ Prof. Dr. Ir. Ahmad Farhan Mohd Sadullah, said the visit underscores the university’s commitment to enhancing international partnerships, particularly in student mobility, research collaboration and academic development.
“UPM has a strong track record in mobility programmes, sending nearly 1,000 students abroad annually while hosting a similar number of international students,” he said.
He added that UPM’s long-standing collaborations with global institutions including universities in Japan have evolved into impactful initiatives such as joint conferences and academic exchanges.
“Both institutions explored interdisciplinary collaboration, particularly in engineering and other strategic areas aligned with global needs, while UPM highlighted initiatives such as the Food Security Blueprint 2024 and its efforts to advance planetary health through regional and international partnerships,” he said.
Rector Prof. Marian Barbu expressed keen interest in formalising academic cooperation between the two universities.
“We see strong potential for collaboration in research, publications and academic exchange. Leveraging platforms such as Erasmus+ and Horizon Europe will further strengthen institutional ties,” he said.
The visit concluded with an exchange of souvenirs and a commemorative photo session, symbolising the beginning of a promising partnership between the two institutions.
Also present were Deputy Director (International Relations), UPM, PLC. Gs. Ts. Dr. Mohamad Mujaheed Hassan, and Head of Global Engagement Section, Nurul Farah Atikah Mohamad Zahar.
