IMT-GT UNINET 1st Workshop for 2nd USAP 2022 – 2026
The 1st Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT) University Network (UNINET) Workshop for USAP 2020-2026 has been successfully held virtually on 30 July 2021. Prof. Hizir Sofyan, Vice-Rector for Planning, Cooperation and Public Relation Affairs at Universitas Syiah Kuala (USK) chaired the 1st IMT-GT UNINET Workshop, with the attendance of Dr. Hajah Zainab Mohd Noor, Director Office of International Affairs at Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) Malaysia, Dr. Thaweesak Putsukee, Assistant to the President for International Relations at Thaksin University (TSU), Mr. Firdaus Dahlan, Director of Centre for IMT-GT Subregional Cooperation (CIMT), and CIMT and UNINET members.
At the beginning of the meeting, Prof. Hizir Sofyan noted that the vision of UNINET is an IMT-GT subregion where people-to-people connectivity is celebrated and being successfully pursued towards building a knowledge-based community for the benefit of all stakeholders. Under that, he highlighted goals of planning for the next USAP 2022-2026, which are sustainable economic transformation, inclusive social transformation, innovative applied research, and solutions for sustainable communities. The meeting focused on the proposed programs to be included in the formulation of the next USAP 2022-2026 and the need to address other important points, including ongoing projects and pending projects that might be proposed for the next programs in USAP 2022-2026.
During the 1st IMT-GT Workshop meeting, Prof. Hizir expressed his deep concern on the COVID-19 pandemic which has severely strained public health systems and devastated economies across the world. All of the members might have struggled to implement the ideas and programs. Since the covid-19 pandemic, all the activities need to adjust and adapt to the new situation. Also, the most important is international activities, most of the events have been interrupted and need to be postponed. However, he believed that the activities and programs in the UNINET have been progressing even in this uncertain situation.
Prof. Hizir also noted that UNINET has intensely initiated and showed outstanding progress in the IMT-GT, it is important to increase UNINET capacity. Therefore, it should be highlighted in the next USAP on the two points; first is UNINET as a think tank to implement the next year 2022-2026, and second is UNINET as a stand-alone entity.
The most important agenda of the meeting is to discuss in the group the next programs from each member to include in the USAP. UNINET should report and discuss new proposed programs that are appropriate and related to the goals under IB. Thus, it is expected that USAP programs could support the IB and the proposed programs in USAP could be included in the next IB. In addition, all members would discuss any issues discovered during the implementation of projects/activities in 2021 and recommendations to overcome the issues.
Mr. Firdaus Dahlan noted that several points need to highlight in the report. Under the current project and activities of IB 2017-2021, there are 7 focus areas of cooperation which are Agriculture and Agro-based, Halal & Product Service, Tourism, Human Resource, Education and Culture, ICT, and Transport-Connectivity, Trade and Investment and recently established a new working group on Environment. The working group is still new but it is very active in conducting some activities in collaboration with CIMT and with the relevant working group. Meanwhile, for the project under IB 2017-2021, around 33 projects have been completed, 63 ongoing projects will be finalized soon and 10 new projects will be completed under the second IB 2022-2026.
The discussion among UNINET members ran smoothly and each delegation gave many ideas and suggestions for the next USAP 2022-2026. In the end, the meeting was noted with appreciation and closing remarks by the Chairperson and Head of Delegations from Malaysia, Thailand, and CIMT. The Meeting further acknowledged with high priority to conducting 2nd workshop in Malaysia and 3rd workshop in Thailand for the formulation of successor USAP 2022-2026.
