Its chancellor, Raja Muda Perlis Tuanku Syed Faizuddin Putra Jamalullail said the institutions were Tashkent State Technical University (TSTU), Uzbekistan State University of World Language (USUWL), and Samarkand State Architectural and Civil Engineering Institute (SAACEI).

The collaboration is aimed at paving the way for student and lecturer exchange programmes and joint research and cooperation in academic and engineering programmes, he said when contacted by Bernama.

Syed Faizuddin was heading UniMAP three-day visit to Uzbekistan.

"UniMAP would benefit from the collaboration with the three renowned institutions," he said.

UniMAP was represented by its vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Kamarudin Hussin at the signing ceremony of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the institutions.

TSTU was represented by its rector, Dr Sorahmat Shaabidov while USUWL by its rector, Prof Abdulla Ismailov.

TSTU and USUWL are located in Tashkent while SSAACI in Samarkand.

Raja Muda of Perlis also visited Tashkent Medical Academy and held discussions with rectors of National University of Uzbekistan, Tashkent Islamic University, Tashkent Medical Academy and Samarkand State University.

He also met Uzbekistan Deputy Prime Minister Rustam Kasimov and two deputy higher education ministers.

Eighty Uzbekistan students are currently pursuing higher studies in Malaysia.