TAIPEI, Taiwan--(BUSINESS WIRE)--National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) in Tainan, Taiwan, and University of Malaya (UM), Malaysia, have signed an Agreement for Dual Ph.D. Degree Program recently under which the two sides would cooperate in enterovirus and dengue virus research.
Under the agreement, the two universities will launch joint programs in the areas of cultural, educational, academic exchange and focus on medical research on tropical infectious disease.
Lin Chyi-her, dean of NCKU's College of Medicine, and his Malaya University counterpart Adeeba Kamarulzaman, signed the agreement on behalf of the two schools on Dec. 23.
According to Hwung-Hweng Hwung, president of NCKU, the timing of signing the pact is great for the first Infectious Diseases and Information Research Center was going to be established at NCKU on Dec. 26.
“The cooperation between NCKU and UM will bear fruitful result and benefit the world in infectious virus prevention,” said Hwung.
“The tie between NCKU and UM has grown solid since the cooperation pact took effect and joint efforts at enterovirus and dengue virus research can be expected,” said Lin.
Adeeba Kamarulzaman was positive about the leading role of NCKU's research team on enterovirus 71 and research results regarding dengue fever, saying that both sides will jointly focus on medical research on tropical infectious disease.
“The quota for the dual Ph.D. program will be 10 students, and currently 6 Malaysian students have applied to enroll next year,” said Lai Ming-Derg, director of Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, NCKU.
The University of Malaya is the country's oldest university. The university has undergone rapid development since its establishment, and has been designated as a Research University by the Malaysian Government since 2006. UM is now a research‐intensive, comprehensive institution, conducting research across a wide range of disciplines, and continues to actively spearhead various research projects.