UPSI READY TO TRAIN 33 YOUNG TALENTS FROM UZBEKISTAN

By Rohani Mohd Ibrahim

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 19 (Bernama) -- Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) is ready to train 33 participants from Uzbekistan under the Young Scientist training programme, funded by a US$172,000 grant approved by Uzbekistan’s Higher Education Ministry last year.

She said the programme, scheduled to run from March 23 to May 22, 2026, will be attended by professionals from Uzbekistan aged between 25 and 40 years.

The Young Scientist Programme aims to strengthen Uzbekistan’s capabilities in research, innovation, and knowledge transfer in the fields of science, technology, Internet of Things, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and green technology, said Che Zalina, who is also the Head of UPSI’s EduGreen@UPSI Centre for Green Technology Education.

“The approval of this grant reflects the high confidence of the Uzbekistan government in UPSI’s expertise as an international reference centre for human capital development, high-impact research, and innovation,” she said.

The Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) regarding the grant was signed last year at UPSI, involving UPSI and two Uzbek agencies: The Fund and the Agency of Innovative Development under the Higher Education, Science, and Innovation Ministry.

At the signing ceremony, UPSI was represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Student Affairs and Alumni), Professor Dr Norkhalid Salimin, while Dr Tavakalov Jonibek represented The Fund.

According to Che Zalina, who is also a Senior Advisor at Bukhara State Technical University (BSTU), this training programme is expected to have a significant impact not only on developing young Uzbek scientists but also on opening more opportunities for research collaboration, joint publications, and green technology development between Malaysian and Uzbek institutions.

The programme will focus on Education and Green Smart System Technology, Scientific Writing, as well as Outdoor and Environment-Based Learning, she added.

She noted that the implementation of this programme demonstrates Uzbekistan’s strong confidence in UPSI and Malaysia’s expertise in education, green technology, smart innovation, and human capital development.

The initiative also strengthens strategic ties between Malaysia and Uzbekistan in higher education, research, innovation, and technology transfer, she said.

When asked about UPSI’s preparations to ensure the comfort of participants and help them adapt in Malaysia, Che Zalina said that UPSI had previously trained participants from Uzbekistan for a two-week programme.

“So UPSI is already familiar with their needs,” she said.

According to UPSI, this achievement is proof of the direct and lasting impact of educational diplomacy and international collaboration carried out through government-to-government (G2G) platforms, elevating UPSI’s reputation as a training hub, reference centre, and catalyst for academic capacity development regionally and internationally.

The programme is also part of efforts to strengthen Malaysia – Uzbekistan strategic cooperation in higher education, science, and technology, in line with the agenda to develop young researchers internationally, the statement said.

— BERNAMA