Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) has reaffirmed its commitment to advancing Open Science and international research collaboration through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with the International School for Social and Business Studies (ISSBS), Slovenia recently.
The MoU, formalized during the Erasmus EU-funded Open Science Workshop, represents a significant milestone in fostering global academic partnerships.
The agreement was signed by UMS Vice-Chancellor, Professor Datuk Dr. Kasim Hj. Mansor, and ISSBS Dean, Professor Dr. Kristijan Breznik.
Focused on integrating Open Science principles into academic and research practices, the partnership emphasizes open research data and methodologies as tools to accelerate innovation and foster transparency and accessibility in scientific research.
As part of the MoU, UMS and ISSBS will collaborate on developing frameworks for open research data management and knowledge science.
Other key initiatives include securing matching grants for joint projects, establishing postgraduate mentorship and student exchange programs, and organizing workshops and training sessions to enhance Open Science capacity building.
“This partnership reflects UMS’s dedication to fostering global collaboration and driving innovation through Open Science.”
“By prioritizing open research data and methodologies, we aim to deliver impactful scientific advancements and make knowledge accessible to a wider global community,” said Datuk Kasim.
Professor Kristijan Breznik echoed this sentiment, stating that ISSBS is thrilled to collaborate with UMS.
“Together, we aim to address critical challenges in Open Science and create meaningful initiatives that benefit researchers, students, and the global academic community,” he said.
The event was attended by UMS Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research and Innovation, Professor Ir. Dr. Rosalam Hj. Sarbatly, who also serves as the Erasmus EU Open Science Institutional Leader for UMS.
UMS Registrar, Luqman Ridha Anwar, and capacity-building representatives from Europe, including the Netherlands and Finland, as well as from India, Malaysia, and Africa, were also present.
The representatives from UMS includes Chief Digital Officer, Professor Dr. Ag. Asri Ag. Ibrahim; Dean Faculty of Computing and Informatics, Associate Professor Dr. Mohd Hanafi Ahmad Hijazi; Deputy Director (Strategic) Research Management Centre, Associate Professor Dr. Fatimah Ahmedy, who also serves as the Erasmus EU Open Science coordinator for UMS and Director of Data Management and Artificial Intelligence Centre, Dr. Farashazillah Yahya.
Their participation underscores the partnership’s global reach and inclusivity.
Aligned with UMS’s strategic objectives under Key Results Area (KRA) 1 and 3, which focus on internationalization and research excellence, the MoU emphasizes collaborative research projects, co-development of academic publications, and knowledge-sharing initiatives.
The collaboration between UMS and ISSBS represents a bold step forward in empowering researchers and students, fostering innovation, and positioning both institutions as leaders in global research.
By focusing on Open Science, particularly open research data, the agreement is set to create a sustainable framework for advancing scientific practices and reinforcing UMS’s reputation as a hub for impactful research in the Asia-Pacific region.
