By Asmahanim Amir
Pix Ikhwan Hashim

BANGI, Jan 26, 2016 – Staff of the  Malaysian Pepper Board (MPB) can study for  their post-graduate courses part-time with The National University of Malaysia (UKM).

Vice-Chancellor, Prof Datuk Dr Noor Azlan Ghazali said for starters UKM intends to allow MPB staff to continue their studies at Master and PhD levels at their work-place.

“Through this option, it would not be necessary for MPB employees to come here (UKM) full time but they can continue to do their research at MPB. It means that researchers at MPB do not need to leave their work and offices to move here. They can do their research there.

“It is one of the 2016 New Year’s Resolutions announced by  the Higher Education Minister, Dato’ Seri Idris Jusoh recently who wanted more flexibility in learning among higher education institutions,” he said to the press after signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) between UKM and MPB here on Jan 19.

He said he is confident there will be MPB officers assigned to do specific projects and they can use the projects to carry out research for a Master’s or PhD.

He said besides the opportunity for further studies, the MoU and MoA involving seven faculties at UKM will also help develop the pepper industry with initiatives such as encouraging the cultivation and research on peppe, and developing the goals, policies and national priorities for the development and administration of the sector in an orderly, efficient and more systematic manner.

“So this is a good partnership and encouraged by the government. It’s also the blue ocean strategy – private sector and university cooperating in efforts to develop the industry,” he explained.

Prof Noor Azlan said UKM also intends to run a special training programme in  branding, human resources programmes for sustainable business and development of the market for pepper smallholders.

“The industrial network will also benefit 76,000 pepper smallholders in Malaysia. I believe that applications developed by UKM’s expertise not only helps in terms of productivity but also increase ICT (information and communication technology)  literacy among smallholders.” he added.

The strategic networking and cooperation partnership led by the Faculty of Science and Technology also includes the Faculties of Economics and Management, Pharmacy, Engineering and Built Environment, Information Science and Technology, and UKM-Graduate School of Business.

Meanwhile, MPB Director-General Datuk Grunsin Ayom said MPB focuses on research in three areas such as improving the breed to increase productivity and staving off diseases.

“Apart from that, we also carry out product development by diversifying the use of pepper and marketing, namely the development of marketing channels and expanding the variety of products to be marketed at home and abroad,” he said.

He said MPB is developing the sector by encouraging the cultivation of peppers and research and the development of policies, national priorities and administration of the industry.