February 17, 2025 – Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia – Jesselton University College (JUC) has officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Cheju Halla University, Korea, marking a new step towards enhanced educational cooperation between the two institutions. This agreement reflects the commitment of both universities to fostering global academic collaboration, student exchange, and joint research initiatives. Aligned with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 17: Partnerships for the Goals, this collaboration aims to strengthen international cooperation in higher education, knowledge-sharing, and capacity-building.
The MOU was signed by Prof. Datuk Dr. Fred Y F Chin, President of Jesselton University College, and Sung-Hun Kim, Ph.D, President of Cheju Halla University, in an effort to promote international education opportunities and knowledge-sharing between Malaysia and Korea.
Under this partnership, JUC and Cheju Halla University have agreed to collaborate in several key areas, reinforcing the principles of SDG 17 through sustainable academic partnerships and global knowledge exchange:
- Mutual Student Recognition – Ensuring students and members from both institutions are treated with the same regard and opportunities.
- Course and Qualification Recognition – Facilitating the recognition of courses, certificates, diplomas, and degrees between both universities.
- Educational Development – Promoting the establishment of new academic programs and initiatives.
- Joint Research and Industrial Collaboration – Engaging in industrial research, educational collaborations, and knowledge exchange with a focus on sustainability, innovation, and global academic partnerships (SDG 17).
- Co-curricular and Professional Development – Organizing seminars, conferences, short training courses, industrial projects, and internship programs.
- Student Exchange and Credit Transfer – Supporting student mobility through the Transnational Education (TNE) Program, enabling credit transfers between faculties and departments.
Speaking on the significance of the collaboration, Prof. Datuk Dr. Fred Y F Chin stated, “This partnership represents a key milestone in expanding international education opportunities at JUC. We look forward to working with Cheju Halla University to develop innovative academic programs and enhance cross-border learning experiences for students and faculty. By fostering this partnership, JUC and Cheju Halla University contribute to SDG 17 by establishing long-term global cooperation that enhances educational accessibility, cross-border research, and academic development.”
This MOU marks the beginning of a long-term partnership aimed at fostering cross-cultural academic engagement and strengthening higher education linkages between Malaysia and Korea. Moving forward, both institutions will continue exploring ways to deepen collaboration and create impactful educational experiences for their students and academic communities. This collaboration strengthens SDG 17’s mission by building resilient academic networks that facilitate knowledge-sharing, skill development, and sustainable educational progress on an international scale.
