A decade together - UMP and HsKA strengthen cooperation in German Engineering program

Pekan, 14 July 2020 - The ten years of collaboration networking between Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP) and the Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences (HsKA), which is among the best universities in Germany, has developed a model of German engineering education, the Fachhochschule, to be adopted into the education system in this country. 

Leading engineering education, UMP, as one of the members in the Malaysian Technological University Network (MTUN), has succeeded in producing competent engineering graduates of international standards. 

According to the UMP Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ir. Dr. Wan Azhar Wan Yusoff, starting in 2010, a total of 135 UMP students had successfully completed the UMP dual degree program involving 79 students enrolled in Bachelor of Mechatronics Engineering and 56 students enrolled in Bachelor of Automotive Engineering. 

“Most of the alumni of the UMP-HsKA program are now serving in various international agencies, industries, and companies, within and outside the country.

“The collaboration with this European country initiated from the discussion between UMP and the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), a German government agency responsible for international academic collaboration, with the support from the German Embassy and the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE),” he said.

He mentioned that during the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to continue the collaboration between the two parties, which took place virtually involving two locations in UMP and HsKA in Germany, coordinated by the German Academic Collaboration Centre (GACC).

In this event, Professor Ir. Dr. Wan Azhar also signed an MoU to continue the strategic collaboration in the Automotive and Mechatronics programs, with the addition of a new Electrical program, while HsKA was represented by its President, Professor Dr-Ing. Frank Artinger.

The excellent relationship allows UMP to collaborate with big German industries such as Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, BMW, Robert Bosch, Muehlbauer Technologies, and Elektrisola, which provide industrial training placement, staff exchange, industrial visits, and job opportunities.

Also carried out is an international research collaboration involving students from Germany and Malaysia in conducting International Team Oriented Project Studies (MYiTOPS), which received a grant sponsorship worth €110,000 from an international body, Baden-Wurttemberg Foundation.  

In realising this program, UMP also allocated a grant worth RM1 million to conduct joint research in the fields of green technology, sustainable production and ecology, energy efficiency, and renewable energy led by Professor Dr. Rizalman Mamat for five years.

According to Professor Ir. Dr. Wan Azhar, towards the UMP Strategic Plan 2021-2025, UMP sets a target that all faculties and departments should establish international programs as a benchmark in empowering academic development in the university. 
Meanwhile, Professor Dr-Ing. Frank Artinger said that they are proud of the success of UMP students, and the result of this collaboration convinced the German Engineers (VDI Karlsruhe) to contribute excellence awards for outstanding students.

UMP is the only university in Malaysia to receive this award from a VDI organisation with engineering and technology expertise that provides services to engineers and advise on economy, politics, and technologies, as well as contributes to the technical and scientific aspects of German engineering development internationally.

Meanwhile, five UMP students received the Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree (EU4M) scholarship, which allows them to study in Germany. 

They are Mohd Saiful Akmal Razali, Nur Aida Mihat, Kong Zhung Jie, Ong Kai Lai and Danial Haris Limi Hawari. 

The staff exchange program to Germany involved three UMP lecturers, who are Professor Dr. Rizalman Mamat, Ts Dr. Muhammad Yusri Ismail, and Dr. Ahmad Fitri Yusop, and professors from Germany to UMP, namely Profesor Dr. Maurice Kettner and Profesor Dr. Ferdinand Olawsky.

Also present were the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and International), Professor Ts. Dr. Mohd Rosli Hainin, the Dean of the Faculty of Mechanical and Automotive Engineering Technology (FTKMA), Professor Dr. Mahadzhir Ishak, the Dean of the Faculty of Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technology (FTKEE), Associate Professor Dr. Hamdan Daniyal, and the Dean of the Faculty of Manufacturing and Mechatronics Engineering technology (FTKPM), Associate Professor Ir. Dr. Faiz Mohd Turan. 

Also present were the Dean of the Faculty of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering HsKA, Professor Dr, Robert Weiss, the Dean of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology HsKA, Professor Dr-Ing. Ulrich Gruenhaupt, and the Director of DAAD Malaysia, Brian Trenaman.

Translation by: Dr. Rozaimi Abu Samah, Engineering College/Faculty  of Chemical and Process Engineering Technology