Heriot-Watt University Malaysia and Saranathan College of engineering sign MoU
Heriot-Watt University Malaysia and Saranathan College of Engineering (SCE), India, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen academic and research collaboration between the two institutions. This strategic partnership aims to foster joint academic initiatives and industry-relevant skill development, serving as a vital platform for innovation in both countries.
The MoU is expected to make a significant contribution to Malaysia’s academic and research landscape, particularly in the areas of statistics, engineering, and technology. It will pave the way for Malaysia–India joint research projects, enhanced funding opportunities, academic exchanges, and the establishment of collaborative research centres.
We believe this partnership will catalyse impactful, long-term research collaborations.
Under the agreement, both institutions will engage in a wide range of initiatives including joint research, student and staff exchanges, and internationalisation programmes. These efforts will support co-supervised academic projects, shared research funding proposals, and collaborative exploration of emerging technologies.
A key area of focus is the development of advanced statistical and machine learning methodologies for predictive analytics—particularly in the analysis of ionospheric Total Electron Content (TEC), which plays a crucial role in satellite communications and navigation systems. The MoU also provides for study-abroad opportunities, internships, workshops, and seminars designed to enrich academic learning and enhance practical, industry-relevant skills.
Professor Sarat Chandra Dass, Programme Director of the PhD in Statistics at the School of Mathematical and Computer Sciences, Heriot-Watt University Malaysia, and academic lead for the MoU, says: “This collaboration marks a significant step in creating a dynamic platform for cross-border research. Our ongoing work in statistical and machine learning approaches to ionospheric modelling will benefit immensely from this partnership, expanding our research capabilities and fostering innovation across Malaysia and India.”
At the MoU signing ceremony, Professor Dass also delivered a keynote address titled ‘State and Parameter Inference in Dynamical Systems: From Kalman to Storvik and Beyond,’ highlighting cutting-edge statistical techniques in time-series data analysis. His collaborative research with SCE on TEC data exemplifies the powerful intersection of engineering and statistics.
“We believe this partnership will catalyse impactful, long-term research collaborations,” Professor Dass said. “We are committed to launching joint projects and delivering high-value skill development initiatives with lasting benefits for both nations workshops, and offering students enriching cross-cultural academic experiences."