SERDANG – To empowering the field of plant tissue culture amongst Vocational (Agriculture) students, a project of transfer technology plant tissue culture was carried out between Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) and Vocational College of Agriculture Teluk Intan, Perak (KV(P)TI).

It is the first joint project with Vocational College of Agriculture in Malaysia generally in developing plant tissue culture technology and producing of high-quality seedlings. The collaboration effort on this project was discussed during the visit, which was held by KV(P)TI’s lecturers to Tissue Culture Laboratory, Biodiversity Unit, Institute of Bioscience, UPM in 24^th January 2014.

In order to realize the relationship of this collaboration network, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between UPM and KV(P)TI in 29^th September 2014 for 5 years. The main purpose of this collaboration network is focus on the community development that involves consultation and sharing of knowledge between university and the other institutions on the development of plant biotechnology.

There are many programs that have been designed:

• Transfer of Technology Expertise in Pineapple Tissue Culture in 13^th March 2014.
• Formal Visit of Prof. Dato’ Dr. Mohd Azmi Mohd Lila, The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research & Innovation) UPM to Kolej Vokasional (P) Teluk Intan in 19th August 2014.
• MoU Exchange Ceremony between UPM and Kolej Vokasional (P) Teluk Intan was held in 30th September 2014.
• The ceremony of Executive Talk “Program Pelonjakan Harta Intelek Vokasional (Berasaskan Pertanian)” in 26th February 2015.
• Plant Tissue Culture and Essential Oil Extraction Courses in 18th -22^nd May 2015.
• Research Tour to KV(P)TI’s Tissue Culture Laboratory in 6th -7th April 2016.
• Meeting with Prof. Datuk Dr. Mad Nasir Shamsudin, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and International) in 18th May 2016.
• Agro-based Advocacy Programme, with a model theme on Expanding Holistic Agriculture Technology towards Malaysia Development, was held in 3rd-4th October 2016.

The impact of this project is enhancement of the soft skills of students conducting Biotechnology training, producing high quality seedlings and becoming partners in research projects of the University and industry.

By,

Julia Abdul Aziz

Date of Input: 11/09/2017 | Updated: 10/02/2021 | azah