KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 27 — Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP) today signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with three Australian universities to share experience and expertise in several key areas in the field of oil and gas.

The three universities are Monash University, Melbourne University and Federation University, from the state of Victoria.

UTP Vice-Chancellor Datuk Dr Abdul Rahim Hashim signed the MoU on behalf of UTP while Monash University was represented by its Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice President (Global Engagement), Professor Abid Khan.

Melbourne University was represented by its Head of Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Sandra Kentish while Federation University was represented by its Research Fellow and Deputy Director for Centre for Informatics and Applied Optimisation, Dr Julien Ugon.

The ceremony was witnessed by Deputy Education Minister, Datuk Mary Yap Kain Ching and Australian Deputy High Commissioner to Malaysia, Angela McDonald.

Earlier, Abdul Rahim in his speech said the collaboration was aimed at bringing together the three universities to work with researchers from UTP and develop long-term and sustainable relationship with UTP to support future innovations.

He said the universities would collaborate in several key areas such as corrosion, ionic liquids, shale gas, enhanced oil recovery, biofuels, biochemical and biomedical technology.

“The partnership will help us realise new capacity to create innovative approaches in oil and gas that will impact the future of energy systems,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Director for International Education Unit of Victorian State Government, Australia, Rebecca Hall in her speech said the collaboration would give innovative approaches in oil and gas and also future energy system.

She said the cooperation would also strengthen the ability of expertise from the Malaysian and Victorian universities, especially related to research projects which would be done through various ways such as seminars, workshops, trainings, student research modules and joint research programmes. — Bernama