On the 25^th of February 2011, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (HK PolyU) and the Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM). The MoU was to formalize future cooperation between the two institutions in several areas which includes academic programmes, teaching, research supervisions, research projects, administrations, joint seminars and any other areas of co-operation to be mutually agreed upon by the parties. UTHM was represented by the Vice-Chancellor Professor Dato'. Dr. Mohd Noh Dalimin and the Registrar while HK PolyU was represented by the Head of Building Services Engineering Department, Faculty of Construction and Land Use, HK PolyU, Professor Dr. Chow Wan Ki. The signing ceremony was witnessed by Professor Dr. Abd. Aziz Dato' Abd. Samad, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Academic and International, officers from the International Office and lecturers from the faculty of civil and environmental engineering. The MoU signing was made possible through the full support faculty members especially the acting Dean of the Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering (FCEE), Professor Ir. Dr. Amir Hashim Mohd Kassim.

Prior to the signing of the MoU, a series of two visits to Hong Kong PolyU were organized by UTHM involving two groups of students from FCEE, under the University Student Mobility Programme headed by Associate Professor Dr. Zainal Abidin Akasah. The first visit organized from 18^th to 27^th December 2009 was part of an industrial attachment program to Hong Kong involving 5 students. Among the activities undertaken, includes laboratory work on noise, vibration and lighting and forensic building maintenance as part of planned international work exposures to Building Services Engineering. The second visit to HK PolyU was also part of an industrial attachment programme to Hong Kong involving 7 students from 13^th to 23^th   December 2010. Activities undertaken include technical visits to HK PolyU Research Centres, attending a series of lectures on skyscrapers constructions and laboratory work on acoustic and fire engineering.  Following the two visits to HK PolyU, a return visit by the institution, led by Professor Dr. Chow Wan-ki, Head Department of Building Services Engineering from 24^th to 27^th February, 2011. The MoU was the result of these exchanges and in depth discussions between the two institutions.

During the return visit, the two institutions have agreed that UTHM would offer three new programmes based on the existing HK PolyU programmes namely an Associated Degree programme in Building Services Engineering, a Degree programme in Building Services Engineering and a Master's and PhD in the same area. The HK PolyU programmes are recognized by the Washington Accord and satisfy the academic requirements of the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (HKIE) and the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) UK. The signing of the MoU was indeed a timely event for UTHM at this juncture as the University strives towards achieving its internationalization goals and KPIs as HK PolyU is among the prominent and leading universities in Hong Kong and South East Asia.

Prepared by:

Assoc. Prof. Dr Zainal Abidin Akasah

MoU Committee of the Civil Engineering Technology Department.

Faculty of Civil & Environmental Engineering

Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia.