The first meeting of the Joint Working Group of Qatar and Malaysia on Monday discussed co-operation in higher secondary education and issues prevailing in the sector.

The meeting at the headquarters of Education Ministry in Kuala Lumpur was attended by officials from the Qatar Ministry of Education and Higher Education and the Malaysian Ministry of Education, the official website of Ministry of Education and Higher Education said.

The meeting was held within the framework of the agreement that was signed between Qatar and Malaysia in 2017 for co-operation in higher education sector.

Led by the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Education and Higher Education Dr Ibrahim bin Salih al-Nuaimi, the Qatar delegation discussed with Malaysian officials issues prevalent in scientific research sector and co-operation in scientific research along with steps to increase co-operation of universities in the two countries in research and higher education fields.

The possibility of introducing scholarships for Qatari students, and admitting Malaysian students in Qatar universities were discussed.

An agreement was signed between Qatar and Malaysia for co-operation in higher education sector in 2017. Several Memorandums of Understanding were signed for co-operation in the training of diplomats and co-operation in the field of higher education.

During his visit of Qatar earlier this year, Education Minister of Malaysia Dr Maszlee Malik had held talks with HE the Minister of Education and Higher Education Dr Mohamed Abdul Wahed Ali al-Hammadi and Qatar University authorities on the possibility of having a joint programme. There were also talks about the possibility of universities in Malaysia opening branch campuses in Qatar.