R/V Tan Kah Kee is docked at the Kota Kinabalu Port in Sabah, Malaysia, on Aug 6. [Photo/en.xmu.edu.cn]
Xiamen University's (XMU) marine research vessel Tan Kah Kee arrived at the Kota Kinabalu Port in Sabah, Malaysia, on Aug 6 for its first visit to the state, where it hosted a ceremony marking the start of a public open day.
The event is part of XMU's "Haisi Classroom" talent development program and marks the 80th anniversary of the university's Department of Oceanography and the 10th anniversary of Xiamen University Malaysia (XMUM).
The event was jointly organized by the Sabah State Government, XMU, and XMUM, with support from government agencies, academic institutions, and industry partners.
Among those attending the opening ceremony were Jordan Jude Ellron, assistant minister of Education, Science, Technology, and Innovation of Sabah; Zhu Xinglong, Chinese consul general in Kota Kinabalu; and Wang Ruifang, president of XMUM.
Guests board the R/V Tan Kah Kee for a tour. [Photo/en.xmu.edu.cn]
The "Haisi Classroom" uses the Tan Kah Kee as a mobile classroom, taking students on deep-sea research expeditions along the Maritime Silk Road. The program extends undergraduate marine training into the deep ocean and aims to develop students' practical skills and international competence.
The vessel was open to the public from Aug 7 to 8, offering activities related to marine science and culture. Afterward, university students from Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, and China will board the vessel for marine science training and research with researchers from China and Malaysia.
