Semenyih, 15 August 2023: The University of Nottingham Malaysia (UNM) and The National Tech Association of Malaysia (PIKOM) today announced the renewal and expansion of their Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to further develop industry-academia collaboration that aims to enhance Malaysia’s technology ecosystem.
The MoU was first signed in 2020 for Global Business Services (GBS), and this MoU renewal will see both parties extend their partnership to collaborate on several initiatives covering the entire ICT industry represented by PIKOM in tandem with the rise of the digital economy in Malaysia.
The MOU was signed at the University of Nottingham Malaysia campus in Semenyih on 15 August 2023 by UNM Vice Provost for Teaching and Learning Dr Hazel Melanie Ramos and PIKOM Chairman, Mr. Ong Chin Seong.
Through this renewed MoU, both UNM and PIKOM intend to expand their collaboration on several initiatives beyond Global Business Services, such as:
- Collaborative planning to enhance academic standards, curriculum design, and development
- Developing talent through joint programs, guest lectures, executive education, internship, and training placements
- Promoting innovation through research and development to promote innovation in Malaysia
- Leveraging both parties' areas of expertise for knowledge exchange and making available facilities and resources for the purpose of technology ecosystem development and advisory representation in Malaysia
Dr Hazel Melanie Ramos, Vice Provost for Teaching and Learning at the University of Nottingham Malaysia, said: “We are excited to continue our partnership with PIKOM to further promote industry-academia collaboration. As one of the leading higher education institutions, we are always looking at innovative ways to expose our students to learning beyond the classroom. Through this partnership, we aim to contribute to the technology industry which ultimately helps to promote Malaysia as a technological hub, leading to further develop the Malaysian technology ecosystem that is conducive for business investments across diverse industries.”
Mr. Ong Chin Seong, Chairman of PIKOM shared: “PIKOM’s vision is to support the government’s goal of Digital Economy contributing 25.5% to the nation's GDP by the year 2025. This number could be greater if we are able to boost the digital readiness of our graduates to support the industry at a faster rate. As such, it is only right for PIKOM to directly approach and collaborate with higher Institutions such as University of Nottingham Malaysia. UNM is the leading UK university in Malaysia, and its knowledge and expertise are invaluable to our efforts to develop the tech talents and the industry ecosystem”.
In addition, Dr Mandy Sim, Associate Professor in Services at UNM, was appointed as an Advisor on PIKOM’s Talent Gap Committee. In this role, Dr Mandy will assist in bridging the talent gap for the industry and oversee the placements of interns from universities and contribute to the development of other talent programs as part of this partnership. Being the strategic industry partner to UNM and PIKOM, MDEC will serve as a pivotal link, facilitating and fostering industry-academia collaboration between UNM and PIKOM.
Since beginning their partnership in 2020, both UNM and PIKOM have held numerous discussions and initiatives with some notable activities such as the launch of UNM-PIKOM Academia-Industry Internship Collaboration (PIIP) to provide students with the opportunity to gain practical experience in the industry and potential collaborations with Yayasan Tunku Abdul Rahman on making an impact on underprivileged students for higher education.
Also present at the MoU signing was UNM Dean of Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Dr Jason Pandya-Wood, PIKOM CEO Ong Kian Yew, and Dato' Dr Munirah Looi, Chairman of PIKOM Talent Gap Committee.
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About University of Nottingham Malaysia
The University of Nottingham Malaysia (UNM) offers a distinctly British education in an Asian setting with a legacy as the first overseas campus of a UK university to be established globally. UNM is recognised for its excellence in teaching and learning, as well as the outstanding student experience offered on its 48-hectare campus just an hour south of the KL city-centre. UNM's extensive and diverse research community develops solutions that tackle key global challenges in the areas of food, health, the environment, sustainability, and socio-economic issues within the ASEAN region. The University of Nottingham is ranked Top 100 in the QS World University Rankings 2024 and is rated 5 Star (Excellent) in the SETARA rating system by the Government of Malaysia. Established in 2000, UNM has about 4,500 students from over 75 countries with 15,000 alumni working with the world’s top 100 global brands.
About PIKOM
PIKOM is an established non-profit organisation which represents the information and communications technology (ICT) industry in Malaysia, made up of seven chapters namely Global Business Services, Cybersecurity, Chief Information Officer (CIO), E-Commerce, Venture Investment, Women in Technology, and SpaceTech Malaysia with over 1,000 active members, commanding eighty percent (80%) of the total technology businesses in the country with the task of improving the business climate in the interests of all of its member companies and to promote industry growth in line with national aspirations.
Posted on 15th August 2023