PENANG, Nov 23 (Bernama) -- The Women, Family and Community Development Ministry will be cooperating with several selected public institutions of higher learning (IPTA) to carry out community programmes.

Its minister, Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil said the move was important as these institutions had specialists and vast experience in conducting such programmes.

"Many of the studies conducted by the universities need to be implemented in the community, and the ministry and its agencies will start by working with Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM)," she said.

She was speaking to reporters after the launch of a book titled 'Journeying With Industry: 40 Years... An Unwavering Commitment' at the opening ceremony of a conference on the cooperation between community and university, here today.

The four-day conference is held with the cooperation of Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), the Industry and Community Networking Division (BJIM) and Global Alliance on Community - Engaged Research (GACER).

"USM is a university that has one of the best records in carrying out community projects, whereby previously they worked with the industry and this time they will work with the ministry," she said.

She added that they would be working on their pioneer project with USM, which would be continued with other universities.

Shahrizat said the ministry would also continue working with the Women's Development Research Centre (Kanita), especially on gender related issues.