UM and Indian Council for Cultural Relations sign MoA to establish Thiruvalluvar Chair, strengthening Malaysia-India academic ties

The ceremony was held at Universiti Malaya’s Office of the Vice Chancellor, witnessed by H.E. Shri Kirti Vardhan Singh, India's Minister of State for External Affairs.

The agreement marks a significant step in Malaysia-India academic collaboration and was signed by UM Vice Chancellor, Professor Dato’ Seri Ir. Dr. Noor Azuan Abu Osman, and India’s High Commissioner to Malaysia, H.E. Shri BN Reddy. It follows the announcement made during Malaysian Prime Minister YAB Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s official visit to India in August 2024.

The Thiruvalluvar Chair will promote academic and cultural exchange between Malaysia and India, with a focus on Indian studies, contributing to curriculum development and research at UM. The initiative aims to deepen ties between the two countries, fostering greater understanding and cooperation in research and education.

Key objectives of the Chair include advancing Indian studies at UM, enhancing people-to-people connections, and strengthening overall bilateral relations between Malaysia and India. The Chair holder will be appointed for one academic year, extendable for another, with the first appointment expected in 2025. The agreement is set to last five years.

During the meeting, several strategic discussions took place, including the potential creation of a matching grant initiative between UM and top Indian institutions, focusing on joint efforts in areas such as the digital economy, energy transition, artificial intelligence, and civilisational development.

UM’s Vice Chancellor also introduced a preliminary plan to establish a Universiti Malaya-India Centre for Global and Civilisational Advancement, aimed at fostering collaboration in academic, research, and technological fields.

The partnership is expected to drive mutual progress in human capital development, knowledge sharing, and scientific advancement, with the potential for high-level academic exchanges, including the involvement of Nobel Laureates from India in joint programs at UM.

The MoA highlights UM’s commitment to future-driven strategies, reinforcing Malaysia-India relations through academic and cultural collaboration, and ensuring long-term resilience in both nations' people-to-people ties.

UM expressed gratitude for the presence of H.E. Shri Kirti Vardhan Singh and other top officials, emphasizing their role in bringing the Thiruvalluvar Chair initiative to fruition and discussing the broader scope of strategic collaboration for mutual benefit.