MoU with MDC

Prof Chuah and Leow exchanging the MoU, while Dr Yap (far left) and Gregsson (far right) look on

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) between UTAR and Macro Dimension Concrete Sdn Bhd (MDC) was signed on 15 August 2018 at Kampar Campus.

Signing on behalf of UTAR was its President Ir Prof Academician Dato’ Dr Chuah Hean Teik while Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Leow Khang Heng signed on behalf of MDC. Also present at the signing ceremony was Leow’s personal assistant Gregsson John Doss, Faculty of Engineering and Green Technology (FEGT) Dean Assoc Prof Dr Yap Vooi Voon, FEGT Deputy Dean for Student Development and Industrial Training Dr Tan Kok Tat, FEGT Department of Construction Management Head Dr Olanrewaju Abdullateef Ashola, Division of Community and International Networking Deputy Director Dr Chen I-Chi, FEGT academics and students.

The MoU aimed to explore potential collaborations between MDC and UTAR, particularly in joint research related to the ready-mix concrete and pre-cast concrete products, as well as the commercialisation of the products. Apart from promoting sustainable concrete for commercial use, UTAR students also benefit from the MoU, as scholarships will be provided to students from Construction Management, Civil Engineering, Marketing, as well as other disciplines. Upon graduating, students who received the scholarship will secure an employment at MDC.

From left: Prof Chuah and Leow delivering their speeches

“I am glad we have this MoU with MDC and I am thankful to them for enabling us to expand our university-industry collaboration, which has also promoted mutual learning between the academia and the industry. I am also glad that FEGT’s Dr Kwan Wai Hoe is involved in two important projects with MDC. There have been many talks about carbon footprint; with these technologies, it will certainly reduce high carbon footprint in many major cities,” said Prof Chuah.

He added, “I am also very heartened by MDC’s kind gesture of offering scholarships to our students. For an organisation to survive, we not only need technical people, but also very good marketers, and for that we deeply appreciate the contributions by MDC to our students across different disciplines. As a university by the people, for the people, UTAR has disbursed a total of RM139.8million worth of internal scholarships and internal loans to a total of 14,330 students. A total of RM15.9million in external loans and scholarships have also been awarded by external sponsors to more than 600 UTAR students. Therefore, with this addition from MDC, I am sure we will be able to give more to our deserving students.

“Today’s MoU signing marks another important milestone for us. As mentioned, UTAR students are very sought after and I agree that it is the responsibility of the new students to continue uplifting and holding the flag of UTAR. Therefore, we are very honoured to offer scholarships and internships to students as well as industrial visits that we believe would essentially provide practical knowledge to students,” said Leow.

He continued, “What we look for in a potential candidate is not merely results, but we also consider their attitudes, flexibilities and their willingness to go the extra mile. The scholarships will also be offered to students from various programmes because we need both soft skills and hard skills. Your university education provides fundamental knowledge, but it is not the end of your continuous learning, thus do not limit yourself, keep your mind open and you will be able to go further. We have also established an academy to help the semi-skilled students, and to give them the opportunity to use their skills when they work in MDC because we need everyone from various levels. That said, we would also need students from a professional background and thus we signed this MoU with UTAR and we are certainly grateful.”

Currently, FEGT lecturer Dr Kwan is collaborating with MDC on two research projects, titled “A Low Embodied Energy Hybrid Binder and Aggregate System for Structural Concrete Production” and “The Upscaling of Coal and Biomass Cementless Concrete for Implementation in the Concrete Manufacturing Sector”.

The objective of the projects is to produce structural grade concrete without using any Portland cement because of the high carbon footprint during the manufacturing process and effects from massive deforestation during raw material extraction activity. The research projects will look into developing a new class of mineral binder material, also known as geopolymer, as a complete substitute for conventional Portland cement for structural concrete production. The new binder system has low embodied energy and carbon footprint, reasonable material cost and safe for handling because it minimises the use of alkali metal oxides in the material design. The projects also aimed to eliminate the thermal treatment requirement to expand the use of material for conventional case in-site construction work. Dr Kwan and MDC will also look into developing concrete admixture which can provide retarding, plasticing and slump retention properties.

UTAR’s internalisation efforts currently include collaborations with over 306 MoU partners, consisting of local and international universities and industry organisations from 26 economies, which focuses on research activities, student exchanges and trainings for staff and students. UTAR is the first private university which MDC signed an MoU with.

MDC is specialised in designing, manufacturing and supplying ready-mixed concrete, quarry, products and bagged cement. With over 50 batching plants across the country, MDC is also a great distributor to Malaysia’s many well-known landmarks and projects, including Kuala Lumpur’s Public Mutual Tower and St. Regis Hotel; Residence, the Sungai Buloh-Kajang Line MRT, Penang International Airport and the MMC-Gamuda Joint Venture on Electrified Double Track, to name a few.

From left: Dr Khor Soo Cheen, Dr Vignes Ponniah, Tey Kim Hai, Dr Olanrewaju, Dr Yap, Prof Chuah, Leow, Gregsson, Dr Kwan, Lee Foo Kwan and Dr Zafarullah Nizamani

Prof Chuah (left) presenting a token of appreciation to Leow

Leow (right) presenting a token of appreciation to Prof Chuah 

Prof Chuah and Leow touring the UTAR gallery