By: Noor Eszereen Juferi
Photo by: Mohammad Izrul Abdul Jabar
SERDANG, January 27 –Higher Education Minister, Dato’ Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, has visited Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) to discuss UPM’s direction and niche in education, research and the university’s role in helping the country deal with the national food crisis.
The visit was joined by MOHE top management along with UPM management and representatives of leaders.
Dato’ Seri Mohamed Khaled said he hoped to see UPM continue to be strong in education and research in line with the aim of the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) for a quality higher education sector as well as convincing international students to further their studies in Malaysia.
“This helps MOHE directly in making the national education sector successful, and every higher education institution has a role and strength to contribute knowledge and research in the country and abroad,” he said.
He said UPM plays a role in observing how the country is affected by the challenge of food shortage as well as how to overcome the issue, which is now an important issue in the country.
“I believe with all the strengths UPM possesses in terms of academic staff and research, together with industry and society, it can help the country in dealing with the challenge of food security nowadays,” he said.
He also stated that UPM is strong as it has various research findings that can be translated into robust programmes for the community through social entrepreneurship and also social innovation.
“This is important for the university to bring new research discoveries to the community to make the country successful, and it is necessary to show the role of the University to the Public to have faith in the quality of higher education in the country,” he said.
UPM Vice-Chancellor, Dato’ Prof. Dr. Mohd Roslan Sulaiman, said the visit was very meaningful because it proved that UPM always had the government’s attention, especially in the agricultural sector, in line with the UPM Strategic Plan 2021-2025.
“UPM is committed to joining hands to ensure the agenda of agriculture, food security, as well as collaboration and exchange of research knowledge for the sustainability of agriculture, benefits the community,” he said.
Previously, UPM was given the mandate by MOHE to develop a Bachelor of Technology in Smart Agriculture programme to fulfil the desire to produce graduates who will lead the country’s smart agriculture sector.
Dato’ Seri Khaled also listened to the presentation on UPM’s Focus and Achievement related to UPM’s Research Success and Impact in Empowering Agriculture and Food Security as well as the Impact of Community and Industry Networking Initiatives in UPM towards the Empowerment of Agriculture and Food Security delivered by UPM Management.
In the meantime, YB Minister was also brought to visit the UPM Agriculture cluster booth to look at the UPM agricultural products. - UPM
