UMP-Alcon working together to develop innovative contact lenses

Johor Bahru, March 26 – Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP) signed a corporate agreement with CIBA Vision Johor Sdn. Bhd known as Alcon Johor  that will build technical depth for business sustainability.  This paves the way for research and development activities as well as industrial training placements and exchange programme for university staff and students.

Alcon is the global leader in eye care. We offer a broad portfolio of products to enhance sight and improve people's lives. Our products touch the lives of more than 285 million people each year living with conditions like cataracts, glaucoma, retinal diseases and refractive errors, and there are millions more who are waiting for solutions to meet their eye care needs. At Alcon Johor, we manufacture the entire range of the world renown Air Optix family of contact lenses.

Together the collaboration would provide the opportunity for staff and students to improve their skills and competencies as well as sharing of expertise in the area of research and development, especially in identifying the potentials in laser machining to produce contact lenses toolings compared to conventional machining.

UMP was represented by Assistant Vice Chancellor (Industrial and Community Relation), Professor Dr. Jamil Ismail while Alcon Johor by its General Manager, Dr. James Jeyadeva Govindasamy. The signing ceremony was held at Alcon plant located in Port of Tanjung Pelepas Johor.

Among the guests who attended the signing ceremony were Ministry of Education’s Industrial Relation Division Director, Professor Dr. Arham Abdullah, Director of Industry & Community Network Department (ICoN), Associate Professor Ir. Dr. Nurul Hazlina Nordin and Alcon Johor Human Resource Head Ms Tan Bee Hong.

According to Professor Dr. Jamil, the Corporate Agreement would be the benchmark in the industrial-university relationship with companies conforming to the international standard in the production of high-tech contact lenses.

“Both parties have agreed to work together in internship and research and development project for three years. It will include industrial training for undergraduates and post-graduate students. The collaboration is also open to exploring other opportunities as well,” he said.

Meanwhile, UMP lecturer Dr. Siti Rabiatul Aisha Idris from Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Manufacturing (FKMP) completed her six-month industrial attachment at Alcon mentored by Dr. James, made possible under the CEO@Faculty programme (AIExChange) whereby the programme was organised by the Ministry of Education.