Sunway University, Malaysia, and Huizhou University, PR China, jointly establish a Research Centre in Information Technology and International Collaborative Education
On 3rd April 2019, Sunway University and Huizhou University (Guangdong, China) signed a Memorandum of Agreement to establish the Research Centre in Information Technology and International Collaborative Education (国际协同育人与信息技术研究中心). The Malaysian delegation, led by Sunway University Vice-Chancellor Professor Graeme Wilkinson, included Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Pua Eng Chong, Associate Dean of School of Science and Technology as well as Head, Department of Computing and Information Systems, Associate Professor Dr. Lau Sian Lun and Ambassador of Academic and Research Partnerships (Asia), Dr. Chong Kok Boon, who visited Huizhou University to participate in this signing ceremony.
This collaboration started with a visit from Sunway University to Huizhou in 2017. It was followed up with a visit of the Huizhou University delegation early in 2018 to Sunway to decide on the details of the partnership. After extensive work in finalising the possible collaboration, both institutions agreed on the establishment of a joint research centre that would focus on research collaboration, staff and student exchanges, post-graduate supervision, with the possibility of the inclusion of other areas of collaboration in the future.
The President as well as General Secretary of Huizhou University, Professor Peng Yonghong, welcomed the Sunway University delegation, and emphasised the importance of this collaboration. This academic collaboration between Chinese and Malaysian institutions is strategic as it will contribute to various international economic initiatives such as the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area (GBA). The research centre will become a platform that will connect talent from Malaysia as well as South East Asia to the Greater Bay Area. The initiatives and efforts from both institutions will open up new opportunities for the advancement of both research and industry, particularly in the area of digital technology and industry revolution 4.0.
The other representatives from Huizhou University who attended and witnessed this ceremony include Vice President (Research) Professor Xu Wanhong, Vice President (Academic) Professor Liu Guodong, Director of Research Professor Cai Zhaoquan, Director of International Affairs Lin Hong, Dean, School of Information Science and Technology, Professor Peng Gang, and General Secretary, School of Information Science and Technology Chen Lu.
