UMPSA forges industry collaboration and shares expertise with PROTON

TANJUNG MALIM, 14 June 2024 – Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA) and Perusahaan Otomobil Nasional Sdn. Bhd. (PROTON) have established a cooperation through a memorandum of understanding (MoU) involving industrial relations and the sharing of expertise.

The MoU was witnessed by UMPSA Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dato' Ts. Dr. Yuserrie Zainuddin, and PROTON's Vice-President of Human Capital and Administration, Amran Mohd Tomin, who represented PROTON in exchanging documents to strengthen existing industrial relations.

"This collaboration involves Work-Based Learning (WBL), which is a learning approach that combines university learning with industry experience to create an integrated experience (theory and practical) for UMPSA students.

"In fact, this collaboration also involves the sharing of expertise and the proliferation of knowledge, in addition to producing competent and professional graduates in the automotive industry, particularly in the technical and automotive engineering fields.

"Among other things, this collaboration creates a combination of activities in innovative research and development (R&D) related to the vehicle industry, including exchange programmes for researchers, academic experts, and students," he said.

He added that through this MoU, UMPSA and PROTON can share facilities in mutually agreed research programmes.

"Currently, a total of four Mechanical Engineering Technology programme students have been following WBL since last March, here for a period of one year.

"UMPSA students also have the opportunity to get industrial training and real work experience in the automotive industry at PROTON," he said.

Sharing the university's achievements, Professor Dato' Ts. Dr. Yuserrie explained that UMPSA is the only public university (UA) in Malaysia that received the United Kingdom's Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) International Certification as one of the hybrid and electric vehicle training centres.

"By obtaining this qualification, UMPSA will provide training to obtain a Professional Certificate for EV maintenance that is recognized by IMI not only for UMPSA students but also for the benefit of the industry, including PROTON and the wider community," he said.

Also present were the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and International), Professor Ir. Ts. Dr. Ahmad Ziad Sulaiman, Assistant Vice-Chancellor for Academic Development, Professor Ts. Dr. Kamal Yusoh, Assistant Vice-Chancellor (Industry & Community Linkages) of the Centre for Industry & Community Linkages (PJIM), Professor Datin Ts. Dr. Mimi Sakinah Abdul Munaim, Dean of the Faculty of Mechanical and Automotive Engineering Technology (FTKMA), Professor Dr. Mahadzir Ishak@Muhammad, and other faculty deans and directors.

The UMPSA delegation also had the opportunity to visit the production operations and facilities around the PROTON factory area in Tanjung Malim.

By: Siti Nur Azwin Zulkapri Centre for Corporate Communications

Translation by: Aminatul Nor Mohamed Said, UMPSA Career Centre (UMPSACC)