Asia’s golfing industry is primed to benefit from a far-reaching collaboration between the University Utara Malaysia (UUM), the Asian Golf Industry Federation
(AGIF) and the Golf Club Managers Association of Malaysia (GCMAM).
Professor Dr Abdul Malek Haji Abdul Karim, the UUM’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Student Affairs & Alumni, AGIF Chief Executive Officer Eric Lynge and Mohd Rom Muslim, GCMAM President, described the tri-partite agreement as ‘an exciting development for golf in Asia’ and ‘a gateway for more opportunities for networking and collaboration within the regional golf industry’.
Officially established in 1984, UUM is the only university in Malaysia that specialises in management education. It is the intention for UUM to work closely with the AGIF and the GCMAM on the subject of club management as well as a raft of other topics.
At the Mini Summit held at Kota Permai Golf & Country Club where the Future of Golf in Malaysia was debated, the three parties signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
Professor Karim said: “I deem it a great honour for UUM to sign a MoU with the AGIF and GCMAM, key organisations within the golf industry.
“Being the only public university in Malaysia to have a golf academy sanctioned by the Ministry of Higher Education (MoHE) as well as a subsidised golf course made free for student-athletes, UUM is striving to fulfil its objectives as the Centre of Sport Excellence in Golf by building and engaging substantial golf development programmes with various golf-related institutions to foster golf interest within the local community as well as to be the breeding ground for high-potential golf athletes who excel not only at national level but also in international tournaments.”
Lynge said: “This is an exciting development for the golf industry in Asia that sees three respected organisations working alongside one another with the specific aim of bringing people together for the general betterment of the game.
“We very much look forward to exploring with the UUM and the GCMAM ways in which we can encourage and promote co-operation in a wide array of topics.”
Among those topics are exchange of staff and students as well as the organisation of lectures, symposia, seminars, workshops and international conferences all related to golf.
In addition to educational and consultancy projects, Muslim added that the parties would also be looking to collaborate on joint research. “We will be exchanging data and information on golf-related educational materials,” he said.
In August last year, the UUM National Golf Academy (UUMNGA) was sanctioned by the Department of Higher Education as an Academic School, enabling it to offer academic programmes ranging from Professional Certificates, Bachelor Degree, Master and PhD.
Currently, UUMNGA is focusing on the accreditation process for its first Bachelor programme, Bachelor of Business Administration (Golf Management) with Honours which is expected to be available for intake by next month at the earliest or February 2018 latest.
Professor Karim added: “I am positive that this MOU will commit us to work together more closely towards our common goal – the pursuit of sustainable development of golf. I believe that the AGIF can work together with UUM through a strategic partnership made possible by this MoU to further explore potential golf development joint-projects and programmes.
“This MoU is the first milestone in our expressed desire to collaborate and bring about greater mutual success to all parties to the transnational smart partnership. It marks the beginning of a journey to work even harder to realise the objectives that we have set for ourselves and further explore other areas of potential co-operation.
“I have full confidence that with this formalisation of our strategic alliance, UUM together with AGIF and GCMAM will soon become the gateway for more opportunities for networking and collaboration within the regional golf industry.”
Among the dignitaries present at the MOU signing were Tan Sri Dato Setia Mohd Anwar Mohd Nor, President of the Malaysian Golf Association, and Professor Madya Dr Azman Yasin, Director of UUM National Golf Academy.
Asian Golf Industry Federation www.agif.asia