UMP, POLISAS forge strategic partnerships in T&L, research, publications and services

KUANTAN, 24 August 2021 - Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP) and Politeknik Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah (POLISAS), Kuantan recently entered into a strategic partnership in sharing expertise and knowledge services to students and lecturers for teaching and learning activities (T&L) and research.

The Director of POLISAS, Hajah Norehan Silek, expressed her appreciation to the industry partners such as Malaysia Institute of Transport, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Auditask (M) Sdn. Bhd., College of Engineering Technology, UMP, UMP Press and Pahang State Mufti Department for their willingness to collaborate with POLISAS.

“POLISAS has established collaborative relationships and strategic networks with 89 industries, communities, government agencies, higher education institutions (HEI) and other agencies to support T&L activities.

“On behalf of POLISAS, I sincerely hope that this collaborative relationship will benefit both parties through the sharing of T&L best practices, professional training, staff and student exchanges, technology knowledge sharing and industry attachment programmes for staff and students.

“With this collaboration, both parties will get exposure to various knowledge, especially the latest development of technologies,” she said.

Hajah Norehan added, it can also bring more opportunities in producing competitive TVET graduates, developing holistic and high quality human capital and providing a more relevant workforce to meet the needs of the current industry.

“Hopefully, with the signing of this collaboration, many programmes and activities will be implemented together in line with the aspirations of Malaysia which wants to create the best national education ecosystem in producing knowledgeable, skilled, competent, ethical and moral human capital,” she said.

Also present were the Pahang State Mufti, Sahibus Samahah Dato’  Sri Dr. Haji Abdul Rahman Haji Osman, UMP Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and International), Profesor Ts. Dr. Mohd. Rosli Hainin, Senior Dean, College of Engineering Technology UMP, Professor Dr. Abdullah Ibrahim, Deputy Director (Research, Education and Quality), Malaysia Institute of Transport UiTM, Associate Professor Dr. Adibah Shuib, Director of UMP Press, Muhammad Azli Shukri and Principal Consultant, Auditask (M) Sdn. Bhd., Mohammad Zakuan Bidain.

According to Professor Dr. Abdullah, the strategic collaboration between POLISAS and UMP is expected to be translated into the implementation of win-win academic and non-academic activities, especially in teaching and learning, research, publications and services for the local community.

“I believe that even before this, UMP and POLISAS have collaborated together. However, through the strategic collaboration that we signed today, it is hoped to further strengthen the collaborative relationship, especially in addressing the shortcomings of any side, for example, in sharing expertise and equipment to achieve the goals aimed by both parties.

“POLISAS and UMP are like different vehicles but heading towards the same destination, which is towards the academic excellence of students and institutions as well as supporting the country’s vision in strengthening the technical and vocational education and training (TVET) programme.

“In this effort, POLISAS and UMP can synergise in strengthening our programmes and this is where this strategic collaboration plays a role while gaining support from other partners either from POLISAS or UMP,” he said.

He added that UMP opens the widest possible opportunities for POLISAS diploma graduates to further their studies to the Bachelor’s degree level through relevant programmes, especially in engineering technology.

“The second opportunity is also opened through the intake in February if students miss the opportunity to enrol through UPU.

UMP is clustered as a focused university together with three other universities, namely Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP), Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM) and Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM), constituting the Malaysian Technological University Network (MTUN).

“MTUN supports the continuation of TVET programmes to higher TVET according to the Malaysian qualification framework at levels 6, 7 and 8,” he said.

He further explained that the Department of Polytechnic and Community Colleges Education (JPPKK) is the driving force behind the TVET programme under the Ministry of Higher Education (MoHE).

“This collaboration also includes sharing laboratory equipment and workshops for T&L, promoting Bachelor, Master and Doctor of Philosophy programmes, and being members of the Industry Advisory Panel for relevant programmes.

“Collaboration in publishing involves the sharing of publishing knowledge, books, journals, scholarly writing, advisory services related to publishing and the sharing of information resources for students and lecturers.

The online collaboration documents exchange between POLISAS Kuantan and the industries was done through the Webex platform following the Movement Control Order (MCO) to curb the COVID-19 pandemic.

By: Safriza Baharuddin, UMP Press

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