KUCHING: Sarawak is exploring a strategic partnership with the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) in education and research.
Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg met LSE president and vice chancellor Larry Kramer in London on Thursday (May 1) to discuss long-term cooperation between the state government and the university.
The strategic partnership will focus on executive education for the state civil service and government-related institutions, postgraduate pathways and scholarships for Sarawakian students, institutional ties and academic exchange.
It will also look into joint research and collaboration opportunities with LSE in Sarawak's climate change, energy and sustainability agenda.
"This strategic partnership underlines Sarawak's commitment towards establishing academic cooperation at global level to support its aspirations of sustainable development, policy leadership and human capital development," a statement on the Sarawak Premier's official Facebook page Sarawakku said.
Earlier on Thursday, Abang Johari led a Sarawak delegation in a roundtable session with LSE officers and scholars.
During the session, he said Sarawak was committed to implementing concrete policies to mitigate climate change together with the global community.
"Sarawak is already carrying out measures towards reducing carbon emissions and strengthening environmental sustainability at all levels.
"We will also continue to maintain our forest cover, which is currently 60% of our total land mass, to absorb carbon," he said.
Abang Johari also called for international initiatives to contribute funds to protect Sarawak's forests, particularly through carbon trading, given the world's shared interest in climate change.
"At present, there are no standard protocols for determining the market value of carbon credits.
"Financial institutions are also taking a wait-and-see stand on funding green programmes and projects," he said.
