USM AND WD MEDIA CELEBRATE FIRST GRADUATES OF EDiDAMM

NIBONG TEBAL, 3 JUNE 2025 — The Engineering Campus of Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) held a graduation ceremony today for the first cohort of students to complete the Executive Diploma in Data Analytics for Manufacturing Materials (EDiDAMM).

The Director of the USM Engineering Campus, Professor Ir. Dr. Mariatti Jaafar @ Mustapha, highlighted in her speech that graduation symbolised more than just academic success which marking a significant milestone in the collaboration between USM and WD Media (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd.

According to her, this milestone represents more than the successful completion of an academic programme. It signifies your perseverance, commitment, and strength in managing the many demands of work, family, and education.

“You should take great pride in your achievement today, having persevered through challenges and sacrifices to embrace learning and growth, proving that excellence is possible even in the most demanding circumstances,” she said.

Mariatti also expressed her appreciation to WD Media (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd. for their continued trust in and collaboration with USM, particularly through the Aerospace Business Unit (ABU) at the School of Aerospace Engineering.

Representing Western Digital at the ceremony, Senior Vice President Chandramogan Anamirtham highlighted the global vision behind the EDiDAMM programme, remarking that the WD Media team was chosen as one of the first implementation sites because of the strong, trusted academic partnership with USM.

“This graduation ceremony marks a proud milestone for Western Digital, as the EDiDAMM programme forms part of our global initiative to upskill our workforce and ensure that we remain competitive in an increasingly digital world,” he said.

Chandramogan also identified three key areas on which Western Digital is focusing its workforce development efforts, namely core engineering disciplines, the integration of Industry 4.0 technologies, and sustainability, which is critical for their company’s future operations.

He noted that the partnership with USM through the School of Aerospace Engineering had enabled them to offer a high-impact, industry-relevant programme combining academic rigour with real-world application.

Dwight Iha, Vice President of Western Digital and General Manager of WD Media (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., shared this sentiment, revealing that more than 90% of the media team who enrolled on the programme successfully completed it.

He emphasised the need to continue collaborating with institutions like USM, especially amid rapid industry changes, while also highlighting the importance of continuous upskilling and a stronger focus on nurturing talent and developing new skills to prepare for the future of work.

“The content of this programme is highly relevant to Western Digital’s upcoming advancements in manufacturing production and its transition to next-generation technologies,” says Dwight, expressing gratitude to all who supported the learners throughout their academic journey.

Meanwhile, the Dean of the School of Aerospace Engineering, Associate Professor Dr. Elmi Abu Bakar, noted that the university takes immense pride in offering programmes like EDiDAMM, which are designed to empower working professionals.

“This diploma was crafted to enhance not only technical skills in data analytics for manufacturing materials, but also to support lifelong learning among industry practitioners,” he said.

Addressing the graduates directly, he remarked that they had earned not just a diploma, but also admiration and respect, and he hoped that this achievement would serve as a reminder of their potential, motivating them to continue striving for excellence.

Text: Siti Faizah Abdul Halim/Photo: Muhammad Taufik Abdul Rahman