GENERAL
The recent reforms in the National
Education System have posed several interesting challenges and
opportunities to institutions of higher learning (HEIs) in the
country. The setting up and subsequent proliferation of private
colleges and universities providing off-shore twinning programs, and
the popularity of and demand for franchised degree programs, distant
learning courses and virtual universities have forced public HEIs to
review their traditional organizational model. To remain viable,
relevant, and competitive, public HEIs have to rapidly respond to
the widespread changes in purposes, structures and programs brought
about by the overwhelming forces of borderless education.
As the sixth public HEI to be
established and entrusted with the unique task of providing
leadership in business and management education in this country,
Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) welcome these new global challenges
and will avail itself of every opportunity to respond dynamically
and innovatively within the context of a fiercely competitive global
knowledge-based economy. The University will continue to collaborate
with other local public HEIs, but it also fully appreciates the need
to intensify outreach programs and promote strategic international
alliances with smart learning partners. This quest for synergy will
enhance its institutional capacity to compete effectively and
efficiently across borders. As a learning university, UUM is
committed to establishing and nurturing learning partnership with
other HEIs which desire to enter into international cooperation and
collaboration in all spheres of educational endeavor. It is in this
context that the Office of International Affairs (OIA) has a
significant role to play.
The OIA will be the crucial link
and catalyst in ensuring that UUM enjoys a growing and sustainable
network of smart partners. The OIA will assist the various Schools,
Institutes and Centers of the University to establish contacts with
their international counterparts and then nurture suitable strategic
international alliances. This is in line with UUM's cherished goal
of becoming a world class university in 2005. To ensure that UUM
will achieve this important goal, the OIA will serve as the
secretariat for all matters related to the University's strategic
international alliances. It will thus monitor the on-going
activities proposed in the Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) and/or
Memoranda of Agreement (MOA) signed between UUM and its smart
partners, and spare no efforts in nurturing and sustaining all
established partnerships.
The OIA is committed to its role
as an intermediary or official link which will take the necessary
steps to bring smart partners together, explore areas of possible
cooperation and collaboration, and hopefully in the process bring
all these efforts to its logical conclusion - the establishment of
meaningful sustainable strategic international alliances.
Activities
In light of the above description
of the role of the OIA, it will be responsible for the following
activities:
- Monitor the
implementation of all activities agreed upon in the Memorandum
of Understanding and/or Memorandum of Agreement.
- Serve as
the secretariat for UUM in the IMT-GT and IMT-GT UNINET.
- Mobilize
resources to optimize cooperation and collaboration with
international institutions and organizations.
- Guide and
supervise efforts in establishing long-term relations with UUM's
potential international smart partners.
- Plan
appropriate activities for inclusion in proposed MoUs and/or
MoAs between UUM and its smart partners.
- Keep
abreast of current educational developments in the international
and regional contexts and to respond accordingly on UUM's
behalf.
- Endeavor to
keep the campus community informed about the various aspects of
educational developments in the region and globally, and help
establish a knowledge society in UUM by publishing OIA's
newsletter and hosting a homepage.
- Serve as a
clearinghouse by disseminating information to, and obtaining
news from selected international educational institutions and
organization as well as potential UUM smart partners.
- Assist UUM
students and academic staff members who will embark on foreign
study tours and go for further studies overseas.
Objectives
- To plan and
carry out various strategies to further promote and establish
UUM as a center of excellence in Business and Management
education in the region and worldwide.
- To market
the postgraduate degree programs of UUM to a wider circle of
clients in the region and worldwide.
- To
introduce and distribute UUM academic publications to a wider
international academia.
- To
encourage UUM academics to increase participation in
international researches, consultancies and conferences.
- To serve as
the secretariat for all international promotional activities
organized by the various institutional units of the University.
6 To
manage and co-ordinate all formal preparations in hosting foreign
guest to the University.
