On the 24th of August, with the assistance from the Russian Centre of Science and Culture, a meeting took place between the Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Malaysia L.G. Vorob’eva and the Director of Universiti Teknologi MARA, a leading government establishment for tertiary education in Malaysia, which currently boasts over 200 thousand students in various courses. The honorary chancellor of the university is none other than the king (the Yang di-Pertuan Agong) of Malaysia.

Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) is sort of a calling card for Malaysia’s breakthrough in the age of modern technology. It is with this University that the government has assigned the ambitious task of mass-preparing specialists for the advanced innovative industries: electronics, computer technology, medicine, nanotechnology, etc.

Both the Ambassador and the Director of the RCSC were present to meet the current rector (Vice-Chancellor) of the University, Dato' Professor Ir Dr Sahol Hamid Abu Bakar. He noted the developing comprehensive ties between UiTM and Russia. Indeed, UiTM has formed a strong working bond with Russian universities and medical research institutions.

A preparatory faculty has been established at the university’s International Education Centre (INTEC) in 2002, and since then has been preparing Malaysian students for entry into tertiary level medical institutions in Russia. This program consists, among many other subjects, the basic study of the Russian language, as well as our history and culture. For the past 10 years INTEC has prepared over a thousand Malaysians for further studies in Russian universities. The RCSC contributes by providing multi-faceted and systematic services to INTEC.

A conversation of special interest took place during the meeting – that of the intensifying scientific and educational exchanges between Russia and Malaysia. Dato' Professor Ir Dr Sahol Hamid Abu Bakar highly appreciates the current as well as upcoming contracts of long-term cooperation between UiTM and Russian higher-learning institutions, notably with the 1st Moscow State Medical University. The vice-chancellor sees a significant reserve in the expansion of postgraduate education possibilities. He declared a readiness to accept talented Russian scientific youths at his university and to provide them with the chance of undertaking innovative research work here. UiTM is also interested in dispatching Malaysian specialists to Russia to further increase their scientific expertise.

Dato' Professor Ir Dr Sahol Hamid Abu Bakar welcomed the agreements which has been reached on opening the Russkiy Mir Foundation and Russian Centre at the base of the University’s INTEC. UiTM hopes to see the Russian Centre developing its possibilities as a resource base to be readily accessed by students, teachers and researchers on all matters regarding Russia and the Russian language.