Recently, Prof. Kuang Shangfu, Director-General of the International Research and Training Center on Erosion and Sedimentation, and Prof. Faisal Rafiq Mahamd Adikan, Vice-Chancellor of the Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), signed a Memorandum of Cooperation between IRTCES and UTM. The two sides will strengthen cooperation in joint organization of international academic training and international academic conferences, collaborative scientific research, project consultancy and capacity building.

Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (Malay: Universiti Sains Malaysia, abbreviated as USM), located in Penang, is a comprehensive research-based national university in Malaysia (one of the top five national institutions), established in 1969, with 28 faculties, 26 research centres and 8 research platforms. The Centre for River Engineering and Urban Drainage Research, the first research centre established by the university, was set up in 1997 and focuses on research and consultancy in river engineering and sustainable urban stormwater management. It has an international presence in river sand transport research and plays an active role in promoting sustainable river management regionally and globally.