The University of Reading Malaysia (UoRM) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Department for Women’s Development, a department under the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development (MWFCD). The MoU signing was held on Sunday 1st April at Pinewood Studios, Iskandar Puteri, Johor concurrently with the Minister of Women, Family and Community Development’s Dialogue Session. A total of 700 participants was recorded.

The MoU was signed by University of Reading Malaysia’s Provost and Chief Executive Officer, Professor Tony Downes and the Director General of Department for Women’s Development, YBhg. Datuk Yatimah Sarjiman. The signing event was witnessed by YB Dato’ Sri Rohani Abdul Karim, Minister of Women, Family and Community Development.

The objective of the MoU is to encourage and to promote co-operation and collaboration between UoRM and Department for Women’s Development in the areas such as professional development, education, economy, health and well-being and safety & law.

“Having to know that MWFCD has launched Tahun Memperkasa Wanita 2018 (TMW18) throughout this year, a national initiative, to empower and drive women into the 4th industrial revolution with focused preparation”

At the signing event, Professor Tony Downes said, “We (UoRM) are excited and happy and look forward on the collaboration with the Department for Women’s Development particularly in the five areas in the strategic clusters in the TMW18 (health, safety, economy, culture and education) which our MoU is focuses on. This is also part of our social responsibility towards the community.

“Some of our planning with the Department for Women’s Development is to organize workshops and talks delivered by our Henley Business School Malaysia, one of the best business school in the world on business and entrepreneurship. Apart from that, our School of Psychology & Clinical Language Sciences will contribute in giving seminars on psychology and wellbeing of women in the workforce. We will also jointly organize events to promote health, safety, economy and education for empowering women, family and the community which is aligned with the TMW18’s objective.”

The Director of Department for Women’s Development Johor, Mohamad Ali Taib said, “We are delighted on the collaboration, I am confident that UoRM, which is ranked top 200 universities in the world will only bring positive outcome from the MoU. I believe they have a strong resources such as the academic team, the best in their field to contribute in the efforts to empower women, family and the community.”