ÄôСÓêÊÓÆµ3·Ö25Ãë

10 April 1997

Two ÄôСÓêÊÓÆµ3·Ö25Ãë of Queensland initiatives in Malaysia, both aimed at creating research, teaching and business links, are the latest achievements in the ÄôСÓêÊÓÆµ3·Ö25Ãë's internationalisation program.

The projects are expected to stimulate collaborative research and development work, training programs and exchanges in both countries.

The ÄôСÓêÊÓÆµ3·Ö25Ãë has set up a company to undertake for collaborative work and commercialisation of ÄôСÓêÊÓÆµ3·Ö25Ãë innovations with the Malaysian government and industry, according to Engineering, Physical Sciences and Architecture Faculty executive dean Professor Paul Greenfield.

The ÄôСÓêÊÓÆµ3·Ö25Ãë has also established a twinning agreement, in collaboration with five other Australian universities, to provide education services for a new university in Kuala Lumpur.

The first initiative is the result of a 1996 memorandum of understanding signed by the ÄôСÓêÊÓÆµ3·Ö25Ãë and the ÄôСÓêÊÓÆµ3·Ö25Ãë of Technology Malaysia (UTM) and UQ, to promote research, teaching and commercial collaboration between the two institutions.

This led to a joint venture between UniQuest, the ÄôСÓêÊÓÆµ3·Ö25Ãë's technology transfer company and the UTM's commercial arm, to establish a company with initial capital of $100,000.

Professor Greenfield will officially launch the company, Global Technology and Innovation Management (GTIM), on March 17 at UTM's Johor Bahru campus.

'GTIM was established to link the ÄôСÓêÊÓÆµ3·Ö25Ãë of Queensland with a rising university in the region, to promote our technologies and develop a collaborative international technology management program,' Professor Greenfield said.

'Over time we will be able to develop a more international focus for our programs and ultimately set up student and staff exchanges.'

Professor Greenfield, Dr Shantha Liyanage, a senior lecturer in the Technology Management Centre, and UniQuest's Ian Crebbin developed the agreement with UTM.

Dr Liyanage said GTIM would generate commercial activities for both insititutions.

'The project is an ideal way to build links that may lead to collaborative projects in research and development, technology commercialisation and transfer, training courses, and staff and student exchange programs,' he said.

GTIM has already won a consultancy project to prepare a business plan for UTM to raise its research funding target to A$30 million by the end of 1997.

In a separate agreement, the ÄôСÓêÊÓÆµ3·Ö25Ãë has joined Australian National ÄôСÓêÊÓÆµ3·Ö25Ãë, La Trobe ÄôСÓêÊÓÆµ3·Ö25Ãë, ÄôСÓêÊÓÆµ3·Ö25Ãë of Western Australia, Macquarie ÄôСÓêÊÓÆµ3·Ö25Ãë, ÄôСÓêÊÓÆµ3·Ö25Ãë of Tasmania and Kuala Lumpur's Nilai College to establish a new campus in Kuala Lumpur.

Under the twinning agreement signed late last year, the ÄôСÓêÊÓÆµ3·Ö25Ãë will develop and deliver programs in business and commerce, engineering and information technology - the most popular fields of study in Malaysia.

Similarly, the other Australian university partners will offer courses in different disciplines.

The agreement requires second-year level Malaysian students to complete at least two years' study at the ÄôСÓêÊÓÆµ3·Ö25Ãë of Queensland before they can receive a UQ degree.

Academic Registrar Neville Lamb said twinning ensured the ÄôСÓêÊÓÆµ3·Ö25Ãë attracted an increasing share of overseas students while providing students with a cultural experience.

Malaysian students comprise the second highest number of overseas students at the ÄôСÓêÊÓÆµ3·Ö25Ãë, with most studying business, commerce, engineering and information technology.

The ÄôСÓêÊÓÆµ3·Ö25Ãë also has twinning agreements with Prime College and the HELP (Higher Education Learing Program) Institute in Kuala Lumpur.

For more information about the office, contact Professor Greenfield (telephone 3365 3329) or Dr Liyanage (telephone 3365 3922).