MARii and UMP ink MoU to expand technology expertise through new academic programmes

Kuala Lumpur, 18th November - A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP) and Malaysia Automotive, Robotics and IoT Institute (MARii). The MOU outlined collaborations in research, academic and student exchange programmes and dual degree programmes, and would also pave the way for the establishment of smart partnerships in knowledge sharing between the two parties.

Today’s MoU signing will be a breakthrough for UMP and MARii to introduce a Dual Degree Master of Automotive Engineering Programme at MARii Academy of Technology in Rawang. This Master’s degree programme offers courses on topics like electrification of drivetrains, artificial intelligence (AI) processes in automation, battery system for modern drives, BUS Systems and diagnosis protocol and many other areas related to automotive engineering. The students will be taught by experienced professors from HsKA and UMP. They will also get the opportunity to conduct their final projects under supervision of German professors in Malaysia or Germany.

UMP was represented by its Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ir. Dr. Wan Azhar Wan Yusoff while MARii by its Chief Executive Officer, Dato’ Madani Sahari.  Also present at the event were Chairman of UMP Board of Directors, Dato’ Sri Ibrahim Ahmad and Prof. Dr.-Ing. Maurice Kettner from Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences Germany.

“The continuous advancement of technology has given birth to new trends that will change the way we approach manufacturing. New areas in the automotive industry such as next-generation vehicles (NxGV), Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) and Industry 4.0, requires new skills, knowledge and familiarisation of expertise in order to smoothen the transition towards realising future mobility,” Dato’ Madani explained.

He also said that, this dual master’s degree programme will pave the way for our students and future workforce to enhance their knowledge and experience in the automotive industry, especially in the areas of new mobility such as AI, automation and electrification of drivetrains.

Meanwhile, Prof. Ir. Dr Wan Azhar Wan Yusoff said, for ten years, UMP has built good partnership with Germany’s higher education institutions through academic and research collaboration, students and academics mobility, conferences, and many more. 

"We are not far away from achieving our target to emulate Germany’s Hochschule education system. UMP has been collaborating with Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences (HsKA), offering dual degree programme for automotive engineering since 2012," he said.

To date, UMP has produced 57 automotive engineering dual degree graduates, many of them working with German multinational companies, while others are undergoing their master’s degree with full scholarships from German institutions. Collaborations with HsKA have also enabled UMP students to find opportunities to go to Germany for student mobility, projects and internship as well.

With this MoU, UMP and MARii hope to increase opportunities to contribute and collaborate with each other in the field of research, teaching and learning, services, professional development and other related activities and mutual benefits of both parties.

MARii, an agency under MITI, has been at the forefront of technology adoption within the automotive and mobility sectors. It has established numerous centres of excellence such as the MARii Design Centre, MARii Academy of Technology and the National Emissions Test Centre to expedite the penetration of high value activities within the industry, which can be applied to other sectors beyond transportation and mobility.

UMP is an established and competency-based technical university that specialises in the fields of engineering and technology and it strives to further enhance and strengthen its international linkage. The university has taken various initiatives to add to its educational excellence and has entered into various collaborative arrangements with respectable parties to enrich its academic and research activities.

Prepared by UMP and MARii Corporate Communication Division