UMP partners with KOCEL to leverage global online learning platform

Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP) recently cemented a five-year partnership with China’s Kocel Group Ltd (KOCEL) with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the latter’s National Intelligent Foundry Industry Innovation Centre (NIFI) in Ningxia, China, on April 24, 2019. 

UMP Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dato’ Sri Dr. Daing Nasir Ibrahim, who headed the delegation to Yinchuan City, signed the MoU on behalf of the university, whilst KOCEL was represented by its President, Peng Fan. 

The signatories were duly witnessed by UMP Deputy Director of the Centre of Instructional Resources & e-Learning (CIReL), Dr. Gan Leong Ming, and KOCEL General Manager, Chang Jun Yong. 

The new MoU spells out that both UMP and KOCEL will collaborate in the areas of online academic and postgraduate studies (for both students and staff), under the massive open online course (MOOC) and global classroom. The two parties will also cooperate in the fields of micro credential and online research for technological advancements.

“The MoU with KOCEL is a historic milestone for UMP, as we have also now established a tri-partite collaboration with Ningxia University (NXU) here, in providing industry-oriented and niche online education to both local and international students,” said UMP Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dato’ Sri Dr. Daing Nasir. 

He elaborated that some of the initiatives will include UMP-KOCEL niche MOOC exchange; intelligent manufacturing knowledge-sharing through cross-cultural interaction between KOCEL technology specialists with UMP academics and students; as well as professional development for KOCEL staff via UMP niche areas.

“Ultimately, this MoU provides ample visibility of UMP as Malaysia’s No. 1 and preferred technological university, within the circle of intelligent manufacturing industry in China,” he aid. 

Meanwhile, KOCEL President Peng Fan said the MoU is not just simply a collaboration between UMP and KOCEL, but also aligned with China’s policy to integrate industry-university teaching and learning approach.

“It also matches well with the “One Belt One Road” strategy to enhance the collaboration between Malaysia and China in both online education and industry innovation,” he emphasized.

Accompanying Professor Dato’ Sri Dr. Daing Nasir to the signing ceremony were UMP Dean of 

Faculty of Chemical & Natural Resources Engineering (FKKSA), Professor Dr. Zulkafli  Hassan; Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering (FKMP), Associate Professor Ts Dr. Mohd Ruzaimi Mat Rejab; Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Industrial Sciences & Technology (FIST), Associate Professor Dr. Chong Kok Feng;  and Director of Confucius Institute at UMP, Yong Ying Mei.

Prior to the signing event, UMP delegation was treated to a field trip to KOCEL’s “steel casting, intelligent manufacturing, 3D sand-printing facilities and IR4.0 cutting edge” operating centre at NIFI, under the tour guide of NXU Dean of Mechanical Engineering, Professor Dr. Zhu Xuejun.

KOCEL is a well-known name in the casting and foundry industry; supplying and servicing the Top 500 companies in the world, such as General Electric Co (GE) and Siemens Pte Ltd. 

The company has more than 50 years of experience in development and continuous innovation through system, technology and management, leading in cast, intelligent machinery manufacturing, chemical and steel structure industries. 

Meanwhile, KOCEL’s subsidiary NIFI is an industry-university-institute oriented open sharing online platform for industrial ecology to establish generic technology research and development for commercialization, industrialization and knowledge transfer.

By: Dr. Gan Leong Ming, Centre Of Instructional Resources & E-Learning (CIReL)