UMP strategic collaboration with 4 industries benefits graduate employability

PEKAN, 24 September 2021 - Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP) strategic collaboration with four industry partners, namely Kiarafics Sdn. Bhd. (Kiarafics), LBB Teams (M) Sdn. Bhd. (LBB Teams), Project Management Institute Malaysia Chapter (PMIMY) and Singularity Aerotech Asia Sdn. Bhd. (SAT Asia) will bring advantage for bilateral university-industry relations.

This collaboration could also increase graduate employability in meeting the workforce’s needs in the local and global industries.
 
As a technical university in Malaysia, UMP is always exploring opportunities for collaboration in sharing the expertise of lecturers and researchers who can contribute to society, industry and national development in line with the UMP25 Strategic Plan.
 
The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Student Affairs & Alumni), Professor Dato’ Ts. Dr. Yuserrie Zainuddin, who acts as the Vice-Chancellor of UMP, said that the academic collaboration with Kiarafics saw the Industrial Learning Mode (Work-Based Learning) implementation in fields related to UMP staff and students.

“It is also to ensure that the courses offered are relevant and suitable for students after graduation.
 
“Kiarafics is ready to assist in the industrial training (LI) placement for UMP students and being involved in the development of curriculum syllabi for programmes under the Faculty of Industrial Management (FPI).

“This collaboration includes the implementation of conferences, studies and research in the field of finance and digital technology,” Professor Dato’ Ts. Dr. Yuserrie recently spoke at the online memorandum of understanding (MoU) signing ceremony.
 
Present to sign the MoU were the Chief Executive Officer of Kiarafics, Muhammad Firdaus Zakaria, Chief Executive Officer of LBB Teams (M) Sdn. Bhd., Professor Dr. Marco Tieman, the President of Project Management Institute Malaysia Chapter, David Khaw and the Chief Executive Officer of Singularity Aerotech Asia Sdn. Bhd., Hafeiz Hassan.

Also present were UMP Treasurer/Chief Financial Officer, Zainuddin Othman, UMP Registrar/Chief Executive Officer, Hazmin Aris, Dean of FPI, Dr. Mohd. Hanafiah Ahmad and Assistant Vice-Chancellor (Graduate Development Department), Associate Professor Ir. Dr. Nurul Hazlina Noordin.
 
The event also saw UMP collaboration with LLB Teams which will benefit students in industrial training, consultation, research, career carnivals organisation, sponsorship and implementation of 3u1i programmes that focus on procurement, production and value chain management.  
 
Meanwhile, SAT Asia would provide placements for implementing 3u1i- and 2u2i-based learning programmes that focus on theoretical aspects to gain experience in the industry in line with the Malaysia Education Development Plan 2015-2025 (Higher Education).
     
In addition, UMP collaboration with PMIMY focuses on developing and implementing the Master of Project Management programme at PMIMY.

This includes professional certification initiatives offered by PMI to staff and students.
 
Both parties will also work together to strengthen membership and volunteer initiatives involving undergraduate, postgraduate, alumni and FPI staff at PMIMY and industrial training placements for students in project-based industries.
 
The university is always committed to creating innovation and uniqueness in strengthening good relations with industry and adding value in engineering and technology programmes through a continuous benchmarking process through international collaboration programmes with German and Chinese institutions.
 
Recently, UMP managed to maintain its position in the 301-500 best in the world and in the top seven in Malaysia in the QS Graduate Employability Rankings 2022 by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings.

It is assessed based on employer reputation, alumni outcomes, partnerships with employers, employer-student connections and graduate employment rate.

By: Mimi Rabita Abdul Wahit, Corporate Communications Unit, The Office of The Vice-Chancellor

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