Campus Info

Moving together to drive the nation’s technical capability

Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP) staff must all move together so as to boost the nation’s technical capability and enrich the field of technical, vocational, education and training (TVET), in line with the needs of the high-tech industries.

This was the message that UMP Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ir. Dr. Wan Azhar Wan Yusoff drove home in a meeting with the staff in conjunction with UMP Vice-Chancellor 100 Days in Office Speech that was held at UMP Gambang Campus Sports Complex on August 23, 2019.

He said the university’s management had carried out basic changes in restructuring of the organisation for three main reasons - firstly to make good the resources available in UMP for technical education with another profile that would shape TVET education to a higher level.
Secondly, to produce an academic administration system by way of participative leadership which involved sharing of power between academic leaders for a better succession plan and sustain the university’s direction, he added.

He said a Senior Dean, a post to be created soon, would assist Deputy Vice-Chancellors in their duties, adding, it was also a platform that would groom future leaders to ensure UMP’s excellence.

“As UMP grows, we need to share power with the Big Four - Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic & International), Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research & Innovation), Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Student Affairs & Alumni) and Chief Operating Officer/Registrar to facilitate the Vice-Chancellor tasked with preparing of more strategic plans.

“In fact, this move will help nurture leadership for the university’s top positions,” said Professor Ir. Dr. Wan Azhar.

He also said that in identifying integrity risk that could cause leakages in operation, all members of the board of director would not be appointed as members of the board of director in the university’s subsidiaries.

He added that after this, all of the university’s subsidiaries would be placed under UMP Holdings Sdn. Bhd. including UMP Advanced Education Sdn. Bhd. so as to improve the organisation’s competency.

On the third reason, Professor Ir. Dr. Wan Azhar said it would involve changing of the academic delivery system from faculty-based to college-based in order to implement flexible education that had been approved by the university for quite some time now.

“For example, sharing of programme between faculties will allow students to sign up for programme at a different faculty and the same concept goes for the lecturers and trainers. In fact, more programmes can be shared between engineering and technology programmes.

“In pushing ahead with this agenda, the university has also introduced College of Engineering Technology, College of Engineering, College of Computer and Applied Sciences and College of Management and Humanity.

“The benefit of having these colleges is that it can help to accelerate the process of endorsing examination results in the University Senate,” he said.

He also said in the next five years, the university expected to receive some 5,000 students taking the high-level TVET course, followed by Technology (3,000), Engineering (3,000), Computer (2,000), Management (2,000) and with Mathematics and Science each expecting some 1,000 students for the current year.

“As a technical university, we should open the gate for TVET and to start taking in students for the 2019/2020 academic session.

“UMP offers two engineering technology programmes – Bachelor’s Degree with Honours in Automotive Technology and Bachelor’s Degree with Honours in Oil and Gas Maintenance Technology. This is in line with the focus given on Automotive Engineering and Engineering Technology," he added.

He also said the Bachelor’s Degree in Technology programme was offered at four technical universities (MTUN) and it was an articulation programme for school leavers with DVM/DKM/DLKM certificates which would allow them to continue their studies at the Bachelor’s Degree level that emphasised on hands-on skill component.

This reflected the recognition to TVET and to enrich it as a high-level learning programme, he added. - "This reflected the recognition to TVET and to enrich it as a high-level learning programme," he added.

"At  the same time, UMP should open the door for TVET by expanding the programme outside of campus and to set up branches in Kuala Lumpur, Terengganu and other places in order to increase the programme’s capacity," he said.

On flexibility of learning that would increase the quality of post-graduate programme, Professor Ir. Dr. Wan Azhar said the Centre of Modern Language and the Centre of Mathematics should play a more vibrant role.

He added that no great technical university in the world that did not have a Centre of Mathematics and no great university in the world that did not have a Centre of Writing.

"The university management system must also be modernised in line with the changing of time and in facing the IR 4.0 Revolution which used applications and flexible working hours (flexi hour) to increase staff productivity," he said.

“The modernisation of the administration can move the organisation and strengthen technology so decision-making can be done faster and more strategically,” he said.

On meeting the objectives outlined in the 2020-2025 Strategic Plan, Professor Ir. Dr. Wan Azhar had aimed to increase the number of international students, to increase online programmes (MOOC) that were more practical in nature, to strengthen its Centres of Excellence and to increase commercialised products that would become a teaching factory for the university students.

He hoped that one day, UMP would have a research group that made fundamental research products and to be the first university to come up with products that had yet to be founded by others in the world.

He expressed his confidence that given sufficient time and resources and based on the expertise available in the Material Group, which was very advanced, this dream could be realised.

On efforts taken to bring the university closer to the community, Professor Ir. Dr. Wan Azhar said UMP would continue to organise the Pekan Dialogue 1.0 Programme and the Distinguished Scholar Talk Series (Siri Bicara Cendekiawan Mulia) for these programmes could help to bring about benefits to the society especially the people of Pahang and enrich the high-level TVET learning.

He also assured that UMP would stay committed in its role as an agent of transformation that surpassed its role as an ivory tower and a knowledge centre and that it would strategically build up its talents to ensure that its technology expertise could be brought to the field, produce high-impact research and innovative works and to drive its technical capacity to the highest level in the country.

Collaborations

UMP and Haro Sports working together in motor sports vehicle manufacturing

Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP) is set to be the first institute of higher learning in Malaysia to have the know-how in manufacturing motor sports vehicle and become the main manufacturer for the Formula Comet.

The university signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Haro Sports and Entertainment Sdn. Bhd. recently that would pave the way for collaborations in automotive engineering and exploring the possibilities that would help expand the motor and racing industry.

It was a collaboration between synergy partners, one from a public sector and another from the private sector.

It would also involve research works and transfer of motoring and racing technology to the trainers and trainees comprising UMP students and staff themselves.

The signing ceremony was held at Tun Abdul Razak Chancellery Banquet Hall at UMP Pekan on August 30, 2019. Haro Sports also presented a Toyota 86 racing car to UMP. 

UMP was represented by UMP Board of Director member (representing the Senate), Dato’ Ts. Dr. Rosli Mohd. Yunus and Dean of Industrial Innovation, Associate Professor Dr. Abdul Adam Abdullah while Haro Sports by its Managing Director, Fahrizal Hasan and General Manager, Mohamad Yamin Ahmad Shafie.

The collaboration would open a lot of opportunities for selected UMP students to venture into the field and enhance their skills in Formula Comet motor sports vehicle research and development programme as well as in racing and event management.

This was in line with UMP’s agenda in communalising technology and promoting bilateral ties with the industry that would further enrich the country’s Technical, Vocational, Education and Training (TVET) programme.

Dato’ Ts. Dr. Rosli said, UMP was proud to see the initiative taken by the Automotive Engineering Centre (AEC) took off with the collaboration forged with Haro Sports that would enhance transfer of technology in the field of manufacturing motor sports vehicle.

“Motor sport is seen as one eco-system that involves its development as an industry. The development does not only include the vehicle, driver or rider but also the many individuals that work behind the scenes. They are the backbone of the team. The unsung heroes,” he said.

He also said it was in line with TVET-based education development plan - the Learning Factory and Teaching Factory concepts - of which the learning would constantly consisted of students and representatives from the industry.

According to Fahrizal, the Formula Comet was seen as having huge potentials to be successful as there were high demands to develop motor sports.

“The potential to expand the market of Formula Comet motor sports championship has been identified and it can be extended further to cover countries in the South Asia, Pacific and East Asia regions.

“This will lead to more job opportunities and industrial training in motoring and racing, globally, and generate high income for UMP graduates. This will also help to boost the graduates’ marketability and quality,” he said.

He also said the collaboration would open up to a wider prospect of networking especially with potentially credible international partners.

Academic and International

Two pairs of twins pursued their studies in UMP

Two pairs of twins quickly became the centre of attraction during the registration of new students for the bachelor’s degree programme for the academic year of 2019/2020 held at Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP) on September 2, 2019.

Muhammad Adham Jamal Akhbar and Muhammad Akram Jamal Akhbar, 19, and Safrizal Syazwan Zainal Hayat and Safrina Syazwanie Zainal Hayat, 19, were among 1,880 students who registered that day.

They arrived as early as 8.00 am.

Nor Khamsiah Mansor, 50, mother to Adham and Akram, said the family was grateful that both of them were able to continue their studies in UMP although both signed up for different courses.

“Both of them have never been separated since small.

“At first, I was very worried if they would be studying in different universities, thinking how are we to send them at the same time. However, fate has it that they are to continue their studies in the same university.

“However, Adham would be pursuing his degree in Civil Engineering in UMP Gambang Campus while Akram would be pursuing his degree in mechanical engineering in UMP Pekan,” she added.

Nor Khamsiah also said she and her husband, Jamal Akbar Ahmad, 46, had made comparisons with several other universities before deciding on UMP as the university had attained various achievements in the engineering field.

“As such, UMP was picked as their first choice when they submitted the UPU Online application.

“As parents, we always encourage our children and have never prevented them to choose the course that they have interests in. However, both of them have always wanted to become engineers,” she said.

Adham and Akram, who are from Terengganu, were former students of Pahang Engineering Matriculation College (KMKPh).

As for Zainal Hayat Abdullah, 43, and his wife Masjuliana Muslim, 43, who are parents of Safrizal Syazwan and Safrina Syazwanie, they said that they did not expect the twins to get offers from UMP.

Safrizal Syazwan is a Mechanical Engineering (Automotive) undergraduate while Safrina Syazwanie is pursuing her degree in Chemical Engineering.

Academic and International

German’s Business Engineering is now in Malaysia

By: TS. DR. LEE KHAI LOON, SENIOR LECTURER, FACULTY OF INDUSTRIAL MANAGEMENT, UMP

Business Engineering is a new branch in the business field and the programme is available at Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP). Graduates of this programme will become the frontrunners in business engineering of which they will integrate knowledge and skill by transforming business practices with innovative practices. They can be specialists in logistics, chain supply and production.

The Business Engineering Programme is offered at Faculty of Industrial Management (FIM), UMP and it is a dual-degree programme with ESB Business School, Reutlingen University (HsRT), Germany.

It is a premium programme and students who sign up for the programme will need to complete their first two years in UMP. 

For those who meet the academic requirements including scoring 14 points in German language, TestDaF (Test Deutsch als Fremdsprache), they will be allowed to continue their third year and fourth year of studies in HsRT.
 
This programme is not offered at any business or engineering programme in Malaysia. This is because students need to have an exceptional understanding in business and engineering.

Students who complete their first two years in UMP and the last two years in HsRT will be awarded with two degrees – Bachelor of Business Engineering with Honours by UMP and Bachelor of Science International Operations and Logistics by HsRT.

This programme, which combines the basic knowledge in business and engineering, has received full accreditation from the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA) and the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT), United Kingdom (UK).
 
MQA has given its assurance on the quality of the programme while CILT (UK) supports the career development of students by way of providing networking and access to industries related to logistics and transportation.

Students will also have access to the latest information pertaining to their career path through consultation and professional development such as workshop and training.

With solid support provided by the two universities, graduates of the programme will be armed with two bachelor’s degrees, knowledge and skill required by the current industries as well as that of the future.

Students will be guided at the domestic level and at the international level and will advance as holistic and flexible graduates sought after by the market.

In order to facilitate students to adapt to the culture and industry in Germany, professors from HsRT will be assigned as trainers in UMP while German language classes are held daily.

This way, students will be able to assimilate their knowledge in business and engineering and allows them to have an upper hand when competing for technical-oriented business positions.

For the record, the programme has produced eight German graduates with dual degrees of which five received their scrolls at the UMP’s 13th convocation ceremony while three others received their degrees at UMP’s 14th convocation ceremony.

This year, UMP will award Bachelor of Business Engineering with Honours to 16 Malaysian graduates and its first dual-degree recipient to UMP graduate Syakiela Ahmad.

Their views:
 
“This programme provides a strong platform for students who want to expand their knowledge in inter-culture, global networking and German language.” - Syakiela Ahmad.
 
“The programme provides a conducive teaching and learning environment with a learning factory simulation.” - Kai-Uwe Schäfer.
 
 “The lecturers at FIM are in a class of their own, they provide a teaching and learning process that is interactive and interesting. In fact, the facilities in UMP are sophisticated and suitable for learning. It is a learning factory.” - Nenad Nedeljković.
 
If you want to be successful and you want to be out of your comfort zone, this unique programme is for you, waiting for you at UMP.