ITB and Universiti Malaysia Kelantan Explore Strategic Collaboration Opportunities in Materials Science and International Education
By Syabina Er Said - Mahasiswa Teknik Dirgantara, 2020
Editor M. Naufal Hafizh, S.S.
BANDUNG, itb.ac.id — Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB) welcomed delegations from Universiti Malaysia Kelantan (UMK) on Thursday (April 17, 2025), at the Rapim A Meeting Room, ITB Rectorate Building. The meeting aimed to explore collaboration opportunities in education, research, and technological development, particularly in the fields of materials science and rare earth element (REE) mining.
The meeting was attended by ITB Rector, Prof. Dr. Ir. Tatacipta Dirgantara, M.T., and led by the UMK delegation head, Prof. Ts. Dr. Arham bin Abdullah (Vice Chancellor of UMK), accompanied by Prof. Dr. Huzili bin Hussin (Deputy Vice Chancellor for Academic and International Affairs), and Assoc. Prof. Ts. Dr. Muhammad Ashlyzan bin Razik (Director of the UMK Centre for External Education).
The discussion highlighted initiatives from GREAT (Gold, Rare Earth, and Material Technopreneurship Centre), UMK’s center of excellence focused on research and development of the REE supply chain. UMK expressed its vision to become a leading technology hub in Malaysia in this field, supported by fully equipped facilities for the exploration, testing, and processing of strategic metals.
Beyond potential research collaborations in materials and minerals, the two institutions also discussed possibilities for postgraduate student exchanges, training programs, talent development, and joint research funding through matching grant schemes.
Through this partnership, ITB continues to strengthen its international network with higher education institutions in Southeast Asia that possess complementary expertise.
With a shared commitment to building productive academic relationships, this meeting is expected to foster synergy that will have a meaningful impact on strategic research development and international academic mobility for both universities.
Translator: Nabila Puspita (Bioengineering, 2022)
