The arrangement for the Jointly Awarded Research Higher Degree Programmes (JARHDPs) is contained in a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) was signed by UPM Vice Chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Mohd Fauzi Ramlan and the Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Newcastle, Prof Caroline McMillan, on behalf of their respective institutions, here today.
The signing of the JARHDP, the first by a Malaysian university, was witnessed by the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies of UPM, Prof Dr Bujang Kim Huat and the Pro-Vice Chancellor (Singapore) of the University of Newcastle, Prof Amir Mahmood.
Valid for 10 years, the agreement states that a student applying to study at either university will not be accepted into the JARHDP unless both parties have first agreed in writing to the individual candidate proposal for the post-graduate studies.
While the JARHDP shall normally last four consecutive academic years, the candidate may be allowed to submit their thesis earlier in exceptional cases.
Candidates who are currently registered at either university shall be permitted to transfer to a JARHDP with the approval of both parties and all supervisors.
The MoA also states that the individual candidate proposal must identify the resources to be provided by both parties and that during periods of attendance at its campuses by a student undertaking a JARHDP, each party agrees to provide the project resources specified in the approved candidate’s proposal.
“The Parties agree that the candidate will be required to attend the campus of the host institution for a minimum of one full time equivalent academic year and a maximum of two full-time equivalent academic years, in order to be eligible to be examined for a JARHDP. “
While the candidate will be exempted from paying tuition fees at Newcastle, candidates in UPM may be required to pay UPM’s fees, including incidental and insurance.
The language used in both universities is English and the two parties also agreed that all JARHDP projects involving human and animal research must obtain prior approval from their relevant ethics committee.
Mr Saiful Maskan, the assistant registrar of UPM’s School of Graduate Studies, said the JARHDP offered Malaysian students an opportunity for obtain their post-graduate degrees from reputable universities at a lower cost.
This programme with the University of Newcastle is an addition to the Dual Degree/Jointly Awarded Research Degree that UPM has with other eminent universities like the University of Sheffield, University of Nottingham, Ajou University, Kyushu Institute of Technology and Jordan University of Science and Technology. – UPM
