By Murniati Abu Karim
Photos by Shahiddan Saidi
BANGI, 22 February 2023 – The Malaysian-American Commission on Educational Exchange (MACEE), in collaboration with the Malaysian Ministry of Higher Education and the United States Embassy in Malaysia, has announced two finalists from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) for the prestigious 2024-2025 Fulbright Visiting Scholar Program.
They are Assoc. Prof. Dr. Yogeswaran Lokanathan from the Centre for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, and Ts. Gs. Dr. Wan Sharina Wan Mohd Jaafar from the Institute of Climate Change.
Both recipients were presented with their certificates of scholarship by the Executive Director of MACEE, Mr. Curtis Johnson.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Yogeswaran aspires to expand his research horizons during his visit to the University of Pennsylvania.
“The primary aim of the Fulbright program is fostering cultural exchange, enabling scholarship recipients to gain deeper insights into the host country.
“So, I wish to bring the Malaysian culture and knowledge to the American counterparts, while simultaneously bringing back knowledge and skills to our country and UKM,” he said.
Dr. Wan Sharina shared her unexpected joy, initially believing her application was unsuccessful due to the lengthy wait.
“I hope to bring back meaningful research collaboration for climate change by integrating remote sensing technology into environmental applications,” she said.
Meanwhile, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Academic and International Affairs, Prof. Dato’ Dr. Mohammad Kassim, said that both recipients are not only recognized for their academic achievements but also praised for their dedication to advancing knowledge and making a positive impact in their fields.
“Let us also reflect on the broader significance of international education in fostering global citizenship, promoting cross-cultural understanding which leads to Cultural Diplomacy.
“But most importantly, all these start with educational diplomacy, and this is where MACEE has been playing a very big role by improving educational and professional accessibility and opportunity to all eligible Malaysians and Americans,” he said.
