UTAR extended its collaboration with the industry by establishing a partnership with UWC Holdings Sdn Bhd at the memorandum of understanding (MOU) exchange ceremony, held on 2 December 2022 at UTAR Kampar Campus.

UTAR was represented by Vice President for Internationalisation and Academic Development Ir Prof Dr Goi Bok Min, and UWC Holdings was represented by Deputy CEO Dr Matin Ng Chin Liang. Also present at the exchange ceremony were UWC Holdings Assistant Talent Development Manager Mike Lee Weng Leong and HR Executive Jay Tan Jun Yu; Faculty of Engineering and Green Technology (FEGT) Dean Ir Prof Dr Ng Choon Aun, Department of Industrial Engineering Head Dr Khoo Sze Wei, Division of Community and International Networking (DCInterNet) Director Assoc Prof Dr Lai Soon Onn, DCInterNet Deputy Director Dr Chen, I-Chi, FEGT academic Dr Lim Chong Hooi, and staff.

Prof Goi thanked UWC Holdings and said, “UTAR’s vision is to be a global university of educational excellence with transformative societal impact. To ensure this vision becomes a reality, UTAR, since its inception in 2002, has actively sealed MoUs and MoAs with over 560 partners ranging from universities to corporations from more than 30 economies. These collaborations have unlocked multiple opportunities ranging from staff and student exchanges to joint ventures in research. Such joint initiatives have also resulted in many positive outcomes such as students of both economies being exposed to cultural and experiential learning through exchange programmes, staff working together for joint research, sharing of resources and other remarkable achievements.”

He continued, “Today, it is with great delight that we will officially welcome UWC Holdings Sdn Bhd into UTAR’s growing list of partnerships. With this MoU, FEGT and UWC Holdings Sdn Bhd will officially begin the strategic partnership to initiate joint projects/research, staff and student exchanges, study visits, industrial placement opportunities, and co-supervision of the postgraduate studies. I strongly believe that this MoU will pave the way for a rewarding journey for both UTAR and UWC Holdings Sdn Bhd. The MoU will enable us to work even more closely in creating platforms which will enrich both staff and students’ academic experience, as well as empower them to explore learning opportunities beyond the classrooms.”

Dr Matin Ng said, “UWC is a strong promoter of the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and under SDG 4: Quality Education, we have always worked with tertiary education institutions. The collaboration with UTAR is an important milestone in our relationship between UTAR and UWC. To date, we have conducted several activities together. I hope this partnership will continue to foster more activities and programmes.”

He added, “UWC became a public listed company in 2019 under the sector of technology. Today our market capitalisation is about RM5billions. The success of the company is a result of the founder’s belief in constant transformation and diversification. At this juncture, we are moving towards semiconductors. We also introduced our own core values, which are Unity, Willpower, and Commitment; with the unity and strong willpower of UWC, the company is able to overcome challenges, and the company is committed to its stakeholders, innovation, and creativity. Our collaborations also signify our promotion of SDG 4: Quality Education, SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure, and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals. We hope throughout the collaboration, we can create a platform for academia to innovate and encourage STEM education, as well as encourage students to work in local industries.”

The MoU will enable joint projects and collaborative research to be initiated, as well as the sharing of expertise and joint development of research. It will also facilitate attachment and mutual visits by staff members to pursue research, enhance curriculum development and promote the exchange of ideas and facilities between both parties.

Students will also benefit from the MoU, as industrial study visits and mutual visits will enhance their learning experience and professional development. Industrial placement for UTAR students under this MoU will also ensure employment for the students, while the scholarship provided to UTAR students will ensure that they have continuous access to quality education, as they acquire the necessary skills and knowledge for the industry.

After the end of the MoU exchange ceremony was a discussion with faculty dean and staff to establish potential collaborations in the future.