UMPSA leads strategic CAuto–Feytech partnership to develop future automotive talent

KUALA LUMPUR, 22 June 2026 – Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA) has strengthened its commitment to industry-driven education through a strategic collaboration between the Consortium Automotive of Malaysian Universities (CAuto) and Feytech Sdn. Bhd., marking an important step towards developing future-ready talent for Malaysia’s automotive industry.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) exchange ceremony, held at the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA), brought together representatives from government, academia and industry in a shared effort to strengthen the nation’s automotive talent ecosystem amid rapid developments in electric vehicles (EVs), smart manufacturing, digitalisation and artificial intelligence.

Led by UMPSA and co-led by Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM), CAuto unites five of Malaysia’s leading technical and technological universities – UMPSA, UTeM, Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP), Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM) and Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) – under a common agenda of advancing talent development, applied research and industry engagement.

The partnership with Feytech will create greater opportunities for students to gain real-world industry exposure through structured internships, work-based learning, apprenticeships and industry-sponsored final year projects under the Ministry of Higher Education’s Research and Industry-Infused Incubator (MRI3) framework. 

The collaboration will also facilitate knowledge exchange, upskilling initiatives and closer engagement between academics and industry practitioners.

UMPSA Vice-Chancellor and CAuto Chairman, Professor Ts. Dr. Yatimah Alias, described the collaboration as an important milestone in strengthening the connection between universities, industry and government.

“Today’s ceremony is more than a formal exchange of documents. It marks a strategic alignment between academia, industry, and government in strengthening Malaysia’s automotive ecosystem. 

“It reflects our shared belief that the future of industry must be built through strong talent, relevant knowledge, meaningful innovation, and purposeful collaboration,” she said. 

She noted that the automotive sector is undergoing significant transformation driven by emerging technologies, sustainability imperatives and changing industry expectations. 

In response, universities must play a more active role in preparing graduates who are not only technically competent, but also adaptable, innovative and ready to contribute to the nation’s future industries.

The establishment of CAuto reflects this aspiration. 

By bringing together universities, industry players and government agencies within a coordinated ecosystem, the consortium aims to strengthen the pipeline of skilled talent needed to support Malaysia’s automotive ambitions.

To date, 346 students have registered through the MRI3 portal, reflecting strong interest among young talents seeking opportunities within the automotive sector. 

This encouraging response demonstrates the growing relevance of industry-integrated learning pathways and the readiness of students to engage with the evolving needs of the industry.

MIDA Chief Executive Officer, Datuk Sikh Shamsul Ibrahim Sikh Abdul Majid, welcomed the collaboration and highlighted the importance of stronger industry-academia partnerships in developing local capabilities, enhancing supply chain competitiveness and supporting the nation’s transition towards next-generation automotive technologies.

Meanwhile, Feytech Chief Executive Officer, Connie Go, emphasised the company’s commitment to nurturing future talent and supporting technology-driven workforce development as the industry moves towards AI-integrated smart factories and EV production environments.

Professor Yatimah added that meaningful partnerships such as this are essential in ensuring graduates are exposed to industry realities before entering the workforce while enabling universities to remain responsive to evolving industry needs.

“Universities cannot work in isolation. Industry cannot build future talent alone. 

“Government cannot drive transformation without strong partners on the ground. 

“We need one another, and we must move together with trust, clarity and shared ambition,” she said. 

The collaboration demonstrates UMPSA’s continued commitment to advancing industry-relevant education and strengthening its position as a leading advanced TVET institution, while contributing towards a more competitive, innovative and sustainable automotive industry for Malaysia.

By: Nur Ezzati Mohd Nasir, Centre for Academic Collaboration & Mobility