KOTA KINABALU: Malaysia, through Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), has signed an agreement with one of Russia’s leading petroleum universities to foster a new era of research, innovation and technical training between both nations.

UMS Vice-Chancellor, Professor Datuk Dr. Kasim Mansor, led the signing with Rector of Almetyevsk State Technological University (ASTU), Professor Dyakonov Alexander Anatolyevich, at ASTU’s campus in Almetyevsk, Republic of Tatarstan, recently.

“We are deeply honoured to translate the strategic intent of our national leadership into meaningful academic collaboration,” said Kasim.

Kasim (right) and Alexander Dyakonov (left) exchange documents during the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing ceremony.

“This partnership is not just about MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) on paper. It is about unlocking mutual potential, driving innovation, and preparing our future engineers and researchers for global impact,” he added.

Kasim stated that the MOU served as a roadmap for joint research initiatives, technical training programmes, staff and student mobility, the development of TVET models for the oil and gas sector, and academic-industrial collaborations through specialised workshops and conferences.

“UMS’s achievement in Russia is not only a win for the university but a proud moment for the nation, reflecting how far Malaysian institutions can go when empowered by visionary leadership,” he stated.

The UMS delegation, hosted in Kazan and Almetyevsk by ASTU’s International Affairs Office, led by Camilla Igonina, received a tour of ASTU’s facilities, including VR-integrated drilling simulators, hydraulic systems, core sample analysis labs and a uniquely designed, interconnected practical training campus.

The visit was guided by Associate Professor Vasilenko Yury Valeryevich, ASTU’s First Vice-Rector.