Banda Aceh, Aceh (ANTARA) - The Syiah Kuala University (USK) in Banda Aceh is hosting this year's Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand-Growth Triangle (IMT-GT) Varsity Carnival, convened virtually from September 27 to October 1.
"I thank all parties for making the event run successfully," USK's Rector, Professor Samsul Rizal, said here on Monday.
Students from IMG-GT Uninet member universities will compete and exchange ideas at the virtual event, which features sports competitions, art and cultural performances, and leadership seminars, he added.
The event aims to strengthen the collaborative spirit among universities of the IMT-GT Uninet for addressing various global issues, Rizal said.
"I am so happy to see our spirit of unity get strengthened," he said, adding that the event would hopefully serve as a catalyst for participants to address global challenges.
Meanwhile, president of the IMT-GT Varsity Council, Associate Professor Hendrik Lamsali, said the event held by the USK is special and is expected to help all participating students to develop their potential.
According to the IMG-GT's official website, Uninet was established in 1996 by IMT-GT, and the network initially comprised eight universities.
The universities comprised USK, the University of Sumatera Utara (USU), and Andalas University (Unand) from Indonesia; Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM), and Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) from Malaysia; and Prince of Songkla University (PSU) and Thaksin University (TSU) from Thailand.
They were later joined by Riau University (UNRI) from the Indonesian province of Riau in 2003.
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Currently, the membership of Uninet, which remains a "valued strategic component for IMT-GT" has been further strengthened with more universities from Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand joining the network.
The Indonesian universities that have joined the network include the University of Bangka Belitung, Bengkulu University, Jambi University, Raja Ali Haji Maritime University, Malikul Saleh University, Sriwijaya University, and Sumatera Institute of Technology.
The Malaysian universities that have joined Uninet include Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Universiti Malaysia Kelantan, Universiti Malaya, Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka, Universiti Malaysia Perlis, and Universiti Putra Malaysia.
Meanwhile, the Thai universities include Wailalak University, Rajamangala University of Technology, and Yala Rajabhat University.
According to the sub-regional grouping's website, the idea of forming the IMT-GT was initiated by former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammad. Its formation was endorsed by Mohammad, former Indonesian President Suharto, Chuan Leekpai, former Prime Minister of Thailand, in Langkawi, Malaysia in 1993.
The sub-regional grouping provides a sub-regional framework for accelerating economic cooperation and integration of member states and provinces in the three countries.
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