UMPSA and IMI strengthen collaboration to enhance global-standard automotive education and certification

UNITED KINGDOM, 28 October 2025 – Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA) continues to advance its efforts in strengthening global collaboration networks by signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI), United Kingdom.

IMI is a professional automotive body with over 100 years of history, responsible for setting skill standards, professional accreditation, and workforce capacity development in the global automotive industry.

The ceremony witnessed UMPSA Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dr. Yatimah Alias, and IMI Chief Executive Officer, Nick Connor, signing the MoU at the IMI Headquarters, Fanshaws, Brickendon, Hertfordshire.

Also present were IMI International Business Development Manager, Pete Jackson; Head of Business Development, Steve Scofield; IMI CEO, Nick Connor; and International Business Development & Accounts Manager, Pete Jackson.

Also in attendance were the Head of Business Development, Steve Scofield; and the Assistant Vice-Chancellor (Development), Professor Ts. Dr. Mahadzir Ishak@Muhammad; and Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Mechanical and Automotive Engineering Technology (FTKMA), Ts. Dr. Mohd Hazwan Yusof, who also serves as the Coordinator of the IMI Centre UMPSA.

According to Professor Dr. Yatimah, this collaboration reflects UMPSA’s commitment to becoming the ASEAN Advanced TVET Hub and strengthening the national automotive education ecosystem.

“This area of focus encompasses electric vehicles (EVs), smart mobility systems, green workforce development, and the enhancement of digital skills within the industry.

“The collaboration with IMI not only enhances academic quality and graduate employability but also strengthens UMPSA’s position as a globally recognised technical university supporting the transformation of the green mobility industry,” she said.

Through this partnership, both parties agreed to collaborate in the fields of professional certification, curriculum development, instructor training, research, and automotive technology innovation, in addition to opening opportunities for UMPSA to be recognised as an IMI-Approved Training Centre in the future.

Furthermore, this collaboration will enable UMPSA’s Automotive Programme to be accredited under the IMI Accredited Learning Programme (ALP), which meets international standards, thereby providing students and instructors with opportunities to obtain globally recognised IMI certifications.

She further stated that this step strengthens UMPSA’s role as the ASEAN Advanced TVET Hub by 2030.

Meanwhile, Nick Connor described the collaboration with UMPSA as a strategic opportunity for IMI to expand its presence in Southeast Asia, particularly in technical education and professional training that support the global automotive industry’s transition towards electrification and sustainability.

During the ceremony, IMI also expressed its commitment to supporting regional collaboration networks through the ASEAN Advanced TVET Hub initiative, led by UMPSA, particularly in green mobility, EV technology, and digital skills development for the future workforce.

This collaboration also paves the way for the implementation of joint research projects, industrial training programmes, and international automotive innovation forums.

The visit to IMI was part of the UMPSA Vice-Chancellor’s official visit to the United Kingdom in conjunction with the Going Global Conference and the UK–Malaysia University Consortium Roundtable at Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU), held from 28 to 31 October 2025.

By: Nur Ezzati Mohd Nasir, UMPSA Global and Ts. Dr. Mohd Hazwan Yusof, Imi Centre UMPSA
Translation by: Dr. Rozaimi Abu Samah, UMPSA Press