USM AND MASCUF FORGE ACADEMIC COOPERATION

PENANG (Malaysia), Jan 12 (Bernama) -- Local Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM)
and the Mindanao Association of State Colleges and Universities Inc (MASCUF)of
the Philippines Tuesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in the area
of student and staff exchanges.

USM Deputy Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Ahmad Shukri Mustafa Kamal said the
cooperation was to promote cross-cultural learning and sharing of knowledge as
well as best practices towards sustainable education, development and peace.

"The MoU also signals the start of a smart peace-building partnership
between the universities in their search for solutions to the problems of
society in general and more specifically to the problems in Mindanao," he told a
news conference after the signing ceremony here.

USM, in northern state of Penang, was represented by Ahmad Shukri while
MASCUF was represented by its president, Dr Victor Barroso.

MASCUF represents 30 state universities and colleges in Mindanao.

Meanwhile, the Coordinator of the Research and Education for Peace Unit,
USM, Prof Madya Dr Kamarulzaman Askandar said the MoU gave USM an opportunity to
play a more important role in assisting the peace process in Mindanao through
educational cooperation.

"The MoU gives the USM an inspiration to assist in creating awareness
through education to students of the colleges and universities concerned on the
importance of achieving peace and finding a solution to the conflict in Mindanao
which had dragged on for more than 40 years," he said.
-- BERNAMA