With the aim to facilitate research in sustainable rubber industries, UTAR and Kossan Rubber Industries Bhd, Malaysia signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on 1 July 2022 at Ideal Quality Sdn Bhd, Klang.

Under the collaboration, UTAR and Kossan Rubber Industries Bhd will work together to initiate joint projects involving collaborative research in the field of rubber product manufacturing.

The MoU was signed by UTAR President Ir Prof Dr Ewe Hong Tat and Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Kossan Rubber Industries Bhd Tan Sri Dato’ Lim Kuang Sia. It was witnessed by UTAR Division of Community and International Networking (DCInterNet) Director Assoc Prof Dr Lai Soon Onn and Research & Development Director of Kossan Rubber Industries Bhd Dr Lai Fook Chuan. Also present at the MoU signing ceremony were Technical Advisor to Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Kossan Rubber Industries Bhd Dato’ Dr Ong Eng Long, UTAR management staff and esteemed guests from Kossan Rubber Industries Bhd.

Welcoming Kossan Rubber Industries Bhd into UTAR’s MoU fraternity of more than 530 international and local partners, Prof Ewe said that the collaborative initiatives explored through the MoU will be mutually beneficial to both parties.

“Under this MoU, both parties will also be able to facilitate exchanges of ideas and facilities, as well as industrial study visits of our students and staff from the Faculty of Engineering and Green Technology (FEGT), which is important for enhancing their learning experience and professional development. This will also enable us to gain insights into the industry, which is important for ensuring that our programmes remain relevant to the advances of the industry, and improving our curriculum development. We are also thankful to Kossan for the opportunity to allow our students to be attached to them for industrial placements and study visits. This will be a good learning platform for our students to gain necessary real-life skills, experience and knowledge required for their employment later on,” enthused Prof Ewe, who also expressed his delight that the MoU will allow FEGT to share knowledge and expertise, as well as establish possible collaborative research and development projects.

Lauding UTAR as a prominent and progressive university with enormous achievements, Tan Sri Lim said, “We are very honoured and also look forward to working with UTAR to promote our vision to be a respected global company by protecting lives through purposeful rubber products.”

The ceremony reached its highlight with the signing of the MoU documents by Prof Ewe and Tan Sri Lim.

The MoUs aimed to facilitate joint projects involving collaborative research; sharing of expertise and joint development of research; exchange of ideas and facilities among parties, including attachment and mutual visits by staff members and mutual visits by the staff of parties.

Through these MoUs, industrial study visits and industrial placement will also enable UTAR undergraduate and postgraduate students to gain industrial exposure that will enhance their learning experience, professional development and curriculum development. It would also provide a platform for the students to acquire skills that will give them a competitive advantage in their employment later on.