UTAR and FMM Perak renew ties

Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) and the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers Perak, Malaysia (FMM) renewed their memorandum of understanding (MoU) at the Perak Campus on 4 May 2012.

The MoU was signed by UTAR President Ir Prof Academician Dato' Dr Chuah Hean Teik and FMM Perak Chairman Dato' Gan Tack Kong while UTAR Vice President (R&D and Commercialisation) Prof Ir. Dr Lee Sze Wei and FMM Perak senior manager Louis Gnanapragasam signed as witnesses.

This MOU is intended to establish a basis upon which UTAR and FMM Perak may explore areas for cooperation in a wide range of areas involving but not restricted to industrial training/attachment, staff/student training, and professional development courses, working with industries in Perak.

The MoU also facilitate exchanges of ideas and facilities among the parties, including attachment and mutual visits by staff members to pursue research, curriculum development, and to participate in seminars, conferences, workshops relevant to the industry. These exchanges also facilitate applications from candidates from FMM Perak for relevant postgraduate research and taught courses. Under the MoU, UTAR will continue to work together with FMM to initiate joint projects involving collaborative research and commercialization, consultancy and to share expertise and joint development of research.

"With the renewal of the MoU today, I am certain that the partnership between UTAR and FMM Perak will continue with a stronger footing and there will be many more concrete collaborative activities in many more areas in times to come," said Prof Chuah, adding that this programme would be very appealing to working professionals.

"The proposed collaboration between UTAR and FMM Perak to offer UTAR's Master in Business Administration programme is an area of much interest to us and even to our FMM Institute at Head Office. If realized, it would be the first Master programme to be launched in FMM and we at FMM Perak are proud and honoured that the programme would be conducted at our Branch premises", said Dato' Gan.

The earlier MoU was signed on 9 January 2009.  The activities under the MoU have been active and UTAR and FMM Perak decided to renew the MoU.  The activities for the past three years included public seminars and talks, UTAR participation in exhibition organised by FMM Perak, a joint project on renewable energy and two UTAR training courses for FMM Perak members.

  Dato' Gan and Prof Chuah signing the MoU

Prof. Chuah (fifth from left) and Dato' Gan exchanging the signed MoU. Look on are other FMM staff members and Prof. Lee, UTAR Vice President (third from left)