TEHRAN – A total of 50 Iranian students and professors are scheduled to take part in the third joint international school run by Iranian and Malaysian universities (fall camp), which will be held from November 3-11 by Malaya University, Kuala Lumpur.

Following the agreement signed between the University of Isfahan and the UM University of Malaysia on the sidelines of the D-8 meeting in October 2023, the third joint Iran-Malaysia school will be held with the theme of ‘training young global scientists and leaders to address modern international challenges’.

The course includes comprehensive collective programs in line with student-scientific diplomacy, IRNA quoted Mohsen Sarraf, Scientific and Research Counsellor of Iran in Southeast Asia and Oceania, as saying.

The course will focus on six main topics including the impact of artificial intelligence on security and privacy, integrated water resources management, artistic heritage and Islamic civilization, sustainable governance in climate change and crisis management, and the balance of faith and reason in lifestyle.

D-8 to boost ties with Malaysian universities

In October 2023, the D-8 International University signed a memorandum of understanding and a memorandum of cooperation with five Malaysian universities.

D-8, also known as Developing-8, is an organization for development cooperation among eight Islamic nations, namely Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Turkey.

The agreements were signed in the city of Hamedan on Sunday with the Malaysian universities of UM, UPM, UKM, UiTM, and UMPSA.

The organization aims to create new opportunities in trade relations, enhance participation in decision-making at the international level, and improve standards of living in the member states.

First joint winter school

In February, the first joint winter school run by Iranian and Malaysian academics commenced in the city of Isfahan, and the two-week event concluded on March 12.

The Iran-Malaysia winter school was launched following a visit last year by a high-ranking Malaysian delegation to Isfahan and the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the top universities of the two countries.

The higher education minister of Malaysia, Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, heading a delegation of presidents of a number of universities traveled to Isfahan in October 2023.

A total of 27 professors and students from different Malaysian universities  participated in this scientific and cultural event which started on February 27 and lasted for two weeks, IRNA quoted Mohammad Amiryousefi, an associate professor of the University of Isfahan, as saying.

The University of Isfahan and the Islamic Azad University hosted the first and the second week respectively, he added.

“As agreed, a group of Iranian students and professors will also participate in the joint school in Malaysia next year,” he went on to say.

“The most important goals of the scientific and cultural event are the expansion of scientific diplomacy, enhancing communications and scientific synergy of the two countries to solve the problems of society and industry and also to attract foreign students,” Amiryousefi further noted.

The two-week event includes scientific lectures in various fields such as political science and law; introducing the city of Isfahan; cultural, industrial, and technological tourism; and visiting different sections of the University of Isfahan and the city’s scientific and research estate.

MT/MG