Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) through its International Relations Programme, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities (FSSK), hosted a visit by Professor Dr. Omer Kurtbag of Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey, from 25 to 29 August 2025.

FSSK Dean, Professor Dr. Asmady Idris, said the purpose of the visit was to evaluate the International Relations Programme, including its course structure, lecturers, as well as undergraduate and postgraduate offerings, and facilities, with the aim of enhancing the programme’s quality to meet international standards.

“Professor Omer's visit has also opened up opportunities for academic cooperation, including student and faculty exchanges, which will further strengthen UMS’s internationalisation agenda.

“His insights and recommendations are invaluable as the faculty works to improve teaching and research quality,” he said in a statement, here, today.

During a courtesy visit to UMS Vice-Chancellor, Professor Datuk Dr. Kasim Mansor, both parties discussed efforts to upgrade the existing Letter of Intent (LoI) to a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between UMS and Erciyes University.

The session also saw the official launch of Malaysia–Turkiye Relations: Sabah Chapter, marking another milestone in strengthening academic and cultural ties between the two nations.

As part of the programme, Professor Omer met with two second-year students from UMS’s International Relations Programme, who are recipients of the Türkiye Scholarships (TIES) and will participate in a short-term academic exchange programme in Turkey.

He also delivered a lecture titled “The Evolution of Turkish Foreign Policy in the Middle East and Asia: Recalibrating Strategic Depth”, which was well received by both students and lecturers. The lecture provided new perspectives on Turkey’s strategic approach to global politics.

“Graduates from UMS’s International Relations Programme exhibit strong employability, with many securing positions in both the public and private sectors in recent years,” Professor Omer remarked during his closing speech.

Also present at the event were postgraduate students and members of the International Relations Club (HA15) FSSK.