UMPSA formalises collaboration with Aviation Australia to strengthen aerospace field

GAMBANG, 3 February 2026 – Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA) today formalised a memorandum of understanding with Aviation Australia in a ceremony held at the Banquet Hall, UMPSA Gambang Campus, as a strategic step to strengthen collaboration in the aerospace field and aviation industry talent development.

The ceremony witnessed the Vice-Chancellor of UMPSA, Professor Ts. Dr. Yatimah Alias, and the Dean of the Faculty of Mechanical and Automotive Engineering Technology (FTKMA), Professor Ir. Dr. Mohd Fairusham Ghazali, signing the memorandum of understanding with the Chief Commercial Officer of Aviation Australia, Brendan Mikkelson, and the Executive Dean of Higher Education and Technology, Aviation Australia, Professor Talal Yusaf.

According to Professor Ts. Dr. Yatimah, the formalisation of the memorandum of understanding is not merely an official agreement, but a continuation of the collaborative relationship built on trust, shared aspirations, and long-term commitment.

“UMPSA consistently emphasises the need for the university to remain relevant by listening to industry needs and future demands.

“The aerospace field has been identified as one of the university’s strategic focus areas, in line with UMPSA’s strengths in engineering, applied research, and industry-based education.

“UMPSA’s aerospace focus encompasses advanced aviation technologies such as unmanned aerial systems (UAS), drones, and rocket development, alongside its commitment to producing ethical and highly skilled human capital,” she said.

The collaboration is the result of preliminary discussions that began last November involving UMPSA, Aviation Australia, and Central Queensland University, which opened avenues to identify high-impact areas of collaboration to be realised through this memorandum of understanding.

Among the key plans arising from the collaboration are the offering of remote pilot training programmes for drone operators with certification recognised at local and international levels, as well as strengthening the role of the UMPSA Centre for Advanced Mobility and Aerospace as a national platform for skills development, innovation, and applied research.

She added that the main beneficiaries of this collaboration are students, researchers, academics, and industry partners who will gain learning and research experiences closely aligned with actual industry needs.

“UMPSA greatly appreciates the trust given by Aviation Australia and is confident that this collaboration will continue to grow for the benefit of the institution, industry, and society,” she added.

The memorandum of understanding signing ceremony reflects UMPSA’s commitment to strengthening its international network and supporting the agenda of developing highly skilled talent in line with the needs of the global aviation industry.

Also present were the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and International Affairs), Professor Dato’ Ir. Ts. Dr. Ahmad Ziad Sulaiman, Assistant Vice-Chancellor Academic and International Affairs (Internationalisation and Academic Collaboration), Professor Datin Ts. Dr. Mimi Sakinah Abdul Munaim, Senior Director of the Centre for Advanced Mobility and Aerospace, Professor Dr. Rizalman Mamat, and Director of the Global Relations Centre, Associate Professor Ts. Dr. Herma Dina Setiabudi.

By: Siti Nur Azwin Zulkapri, Centre for Corporate Communications

Translation by: Ts. Dr. Rozaimi Abu Samah, UMPSA Press