The Centre for Business and Management (CBM), in collaboration with the Department of Business and Public Administration of Faculty of Business and Finance (FBF), successfully organised a significant event titled “Bridging Academia with Polytechnic Sultan Azlan Shah (PSAS) - Exploring Research Avenues and Future Collaboration”, on 7 March 2024 at UTAR Kampar Campus.

The event, which aimed at fostering potential collaborations between UTAR and PSAS, saw a strong support of participation from PSAS. The PSAS team consisted of 16 lecturers and 19 students.

The event was officiated by FBF Dean Assoc Prof Dr Au Yong Hui Nee, who kick-started the event with an opening speech. Tokens of appreciation were also presented by CBM Chairperson Assoc Prof Dr Lee Voon Hsien to PSAS representatives, namely Ms Jegathiswary Murukan and Puan Nor Alwani binti Abd Wahab.

Following after was the highlight of the event, which featured insightful presentations from UTAR representatives. FBF Deputy Dean for Academic Development and Undergraduate Programmes Dr Peter Tan Sin Howe provided an overview of the academic landscape at UTAR and highlighted the various programmes offered by the FBF. He also discussed potential institutional collaborations between UTAR and PSAS. Deputy Director of the Institute of Postgraduate Studies and Research (Kampar Campus) Assoc Prof Dr Choong Yuen Onn discussed postgraduate studies and research opportunities available at UTAR, further emphasising the avenues for collaboration.

The session then transitioned to insightful presentations by PSAS representatives. Coordinator of the Research, Innovation, and Commercialization Unit, Department of Commerce Puan Nor Rafidah Abdul Rahman, accompanied by Dr Rohaida Ismail, provided valuable insights into PSAS’ research, innovation, and commercialisation landscape.

During the research discussions, PSAS students had the opportunity to attend a parallel session on career preparation, facilitated by FBF academics Dr Tee Chee Wee and Dr S. Charles Ramendran. This session covered topics such as interview preparedness, CV preparation, and employability skills, enriching the students’ understanding of career prospects.

The programme concluded with interactive Q&A sessions, thus allowing participants to exchange ideas and address queries on collaboration opportunities, research endeavours, and career development. Overall, the event served as a platform for academia-industry engagement, paving the way for potential collaborations between UTAR and PSAS in research, innovation, and academic initiatives. Such initiatives are pivotal in fostering knowledge exchange and advancing educational opportunities for both institutions.

Following the conclusion of the main event, the PSAS team was invited to a campus tour and programme briefing hosted by the Department of Programme Promotion (DPP), led by staff Ms Ng Jean Ling and Ms Chai Li Xin. This additional session provided the delegates an in-depth understanding of UTAR’s campus facilities, academic programmes, and support services. The informative campus tour and programme briefing were a fitting conclusion to the day’s activities, reinforcing the commitment to fostering ongoing partnerships and collaborations between UTAR and PSAS.