The partnership expands opportunities for collaborative research, academic mobility, curriculum development, and international academic programs.
KOTA KINABALU, MALAYSIA: The Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences at Universitas Negeri Semarang (FMIPA UNNES) strengthened its international engagement by signing a Letter of Agreement (LoA) with the Faculty of Engineering at Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) on Monday, July 20, 2026.
The agreement marks an important milestone in strengthening academic collaboration between the two institutions. It also opens broader opportunities for cooperation in education, research, human resource development, and international academic mobility.
The partnership was one of the key outcomes of the Visiting Researcher program conducted by the Physics Division team of FMIPA UNNES at Universiti Malaysia Sabah. The team consisted of Dr. Budi Astuti, M.Sc.; Prof. Dr. Putut Marwoto, M.S.; Prof. Dr. Sugianto, M.Si.; Dr. Agus Yulianto, M.Si.; and Sugiyanto, S.Pd., M.Si.
During the program, the FMIPA UNNES team participated in academic discussions, explored potential research collaboration, visited research facilities, and met with the leadership and academic community of the Faculty of Engineering at UMS.
The FMIPA UNNES delegation poses with representatives of the Faculty of Engineering at Universiti Malaysia Sabah during the Visiting Researcher program and international partnership discussions.
The program culminated in the signing of the LoA, which formalized the commitment of both institutions to building a sustainable and mutually beneficial academic partnership. The agreement also reflects their shared vision of improving the quality of higher education through international collaboration.
Under the LoA, FMIPA UNNES and the Faculty of Engineering at UMS agreed to pursue several areas of strategic cooperation:
- Academic staff exchange to support teaching, research, and faculty capacity development
- Student exchange to broaden students’ academic, cultural, and international experiences
- Collaborative research focusing on multidisciplinary studies, reputable international publications, and joint research grant applications
- Educational collaboration through international seminars, guest lectures, workshops, and other academic activities
- Curriculum development aligned with industry needs, scientific advances, and international higher education standards
As part of the visit, the FMIPA UNNES Visiting Researcher team also explored research facilities at the Faculty of Engineering at UMS. Both parties discussed potential cooperation in advanced materials, nanotechnology, renewable energy, science education, and materials engineering.
The discussions produced several proposed follow-up programs, including joint research, international publications, student supervision, academic exchanges, and the development of international mobility programs.
Universiti Malaysia Sabah welcomed the partnership as an opportunity to strengthen cooperation among higher education institutions in Southeast Asia. The collaboration is expected to produce innovations and meaningful contributions to science, technology, and the improvement of higher education at regional and international levels.
The partnership also supports the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4: Quality Education, SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals.
Its contribution to SDG 4 is reflected in academic exchanges, curriculum development, and capacity building for lecturers and students. Collaborative research in materials, technology, and renewable energy supports SDG 9, while the international partnership between UNNES and UMS represents the implementation of SDG 17.
Through the signing of this LoA, FMIPA UNNES reaffirmed its commitment to expanding strategic partnerships with internationally recognized universities. The collaboration with Universiti Malaysia Sabah is expected to initiate productive, innovative, and sustainable programs in research, education, and academic mobility.
Guided by the spirit of “Growing Together through Global Collaboration,” FMIPA UNNES continues to strengthen its contributions to education, research, and community service through productive and impactful international partnerships.
