German Ambassador’s visit to UMP strengthens bilateral good relations

PEKAN, 26 January, 2022 - The visit by the German Ambassador to Malaysia, TYT Dr. Peter Blomeyer to Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP) strengthened the 12 years of academic collaboration between Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP) and German educational institutions in developing the German engineering education model (Fachhochschule) in the country’s technical education system.

The arrival of TYT Dr. Peter Blomeyer was welcomed by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic & International), Professor Ts. Dr. Mohd Rosli Hainin and the Director of the German Academic Collaboration Centre, Associate Professor Ts. Dr. Mohd Ruzaimi Mat Rejab with the management of the Faculty of Mechanical and Automotive Engineering Technology (FTKMA) and the Faculty of Manufacturing and Mechatronics Engineering Technology (FTKPM).

Also present were the Dean of FTKMA, Professor Dr. Mahadzhir Ishak, Dean of the Faculty of Electrical & Electronic Engineering Technology (FTKEE), Associate Professor Dr. Hamdan Daniyal and Dean of FTKPM, Associate Professor Ir. Ts. Dr. Faiz Mohd Turan.

According to Professor Ts. Dr. Mohd Rosli, UMP and Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences (HKA) have entered into a close collaboration since 27 May 2010 with the first intake of the Mechatronics Engineering dual degree programme (UMP-HKA).

“The collaboration with this European country initiated from the discussion between UMP and the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), a German government agency responsible for international academic collaboration, with the support from the German Embassy and the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE).

“The visit of the German Ambassador certainly means a lot for UMP in strengthening good relations, especially in academic collaboration and mobility programmes involving UMP students and students from Germany.

“UMP also has German Academic Collaboration Centre (GACC) that coordinates academic programmes, promotion, student mobility, and German external collaboration,” he said.
 
At the same time, Dr. Blomeyer also had the opportunity to visit the UMP research laboratories and meet UMP students pursuing mechatronics and automotive programmes in collaboration with UMP-Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences (HKA) and Business Engineering students with Reutlingen University (HsRT).

In leading engineering education, UMP, as one of the universities in the Malaysian Technical University Network (MTUN), has also set a target for all faculties in the university to establish international programmes as a benchmark in strengthening academic development in line with the plan in the UMP Strategic Plan 2021-2025.

Dr. Blomeyer was satisfied with the good collaboration between UMP and German institutions and proud of the university’s accomplishment in achieving 96% of graduate employability.

“I was also brought to visit the mechatronics and automotive engineering laboratories and also discussed on issues of environment, climate change, biodiversity, technical and science, as well as the dual system in Germany that can contribute to the collaboration in the field of TVET in the country,” he said.

With the existence of the Malaysian-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MGCC), UMP also has the potential to collaborate with industries that can be explored in the future in tandem with the rapid economic development and contribution of the trade and industrial sectors in the country.

The good relationship allows UMP to collaborate with big German industries such as Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, BMW, Robert Bosch, Muehlbauer Technologies, and Elektrisola, which provide industrial training placement, staff exchange, industrial visits, and job opportunities.

UMP is the only university in Malaysia to receive the student excellence award from the Association of German Engineers (VDI), which is an organisation with engineering and technology expertise that provides services to engineers and advise on economy, politics and technologies, as well as contributes to the technical and scientific aspects of German engineering development internationally.

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