By Saiful Bahri Kamaruddin
Pix Izwan Azman

BANGI, 5 April 2016 – Persian language will be offered as a course at The National University of Malaysia (UKM) from September onwards, says Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and International Affairs) Prof Dato’ Ir Dr Riza Atiq Abdullah O.K. Rahmat.

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor said UKM is acknowledging the importance of cooperation with Iranian students and academics as they are playing an increasingly prominent role in scientific research in East Asia.

UKM is currently hosting Iranian students at the university which includes five students at the undergraduate level, 16 at Masters level and 100 at PhD level.

UKM also has two Iranian academic staff and 10 post-doctoral researchers.

Meanwhile, Iran’s scientific advisor in East Asia, Abbas Ghanbari Baghestan said his country had been looking to set up a permanent seat of Persian language in Malaysia.

He also referred to promoting the Persian language as one of the main missions of the scientific advisory.

The one-day knowledge-sharing session was jointly organised by the UKM Graduate Centre and the Scientific Counsellors and Directors of Iranian Students in the East.