KUALA LUMPUR (April 8): The Manipal International University (MIU) and the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) today inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) which aims to develop researchers who could assist and contribute to sustainable growth of the oil palm industry in Malaysia and around the globe.
MIU is an emerging university in Malaysia and part of Manipal Global Education Services (MaGE).
“The key objective of the MoU is to enable the MIU’s postgraduate students in biotechnology to carry out their oil palm and oil palm-related research projects at the MPOB.
“The students will have an opportunity to use high-end facilities and expertise of the MPOB to execute oil palm-related research projects, which will be jointly monitored by the MPOB and MIU,” said the parties in a joint statement today, adding that the MoU will be of mutual benefit to both parties.
“The MPOB’s researchers will be invited as guest lecturers to share their expertise in selected topics of biotechnology which are related to oil palm with the MIU’s undergraduates and postgraduates.
“This will greatly increase the interest of the students to learn more about oil palm and give them exposure to the latest developments and technologies generated for the industry by the MPOB,” they said.
Meanwhile, the MIU also launched its master’s and PhD programmes in biotechnology by research mode. The university launched its postgraduate programme in biotechnology in the last quarter of 2020 and plans to enroll its first cohort of postgraduate students in April this year.
The MoU marks an important milestone for the MIU as it will expose its undergraduate and postgraduate students in biotechnology to the world-renowned palm oil research institute, and hence assist the students to recognise the significance of sustainable palm oil in Malaysia, according to the statement.
The MPOB is reportedly one of the most recognised and prestigious research institutes in the world in oil palm research, development and innovation, leading towards commercialisation of oil palm planting materials and downstream products.
As a custodian of the oil palm industry since its inception in 2000, the MPOB reportedly has been relentless in spearheading research on oil palm in a sustainable manner.
