SAT-PRO CERTIFICATION & LAUNCHING CEREMONY TO STRENGTHEN SEMICONDUCTOR TALENT DEVELOPMENT

USM, PENANG, 28 January 2026 - Micron Memory Malaysia, in collaboration with Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), today hosted the SAT-PRO Certification and Launching Ceremony, marking a significant milestone in strengthening collaboration between academia and industry in developing Malaysia’s semiconductor talent ecosystem.

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Industry and Community Network), representing the Vice-Chancellor of USM, Professor Dr. Azlan Amran, expressed appreciation to Micron Memory Malaysia for its strong commitment in fostering collaboration between academia and industry.

He noted that the launch of the SAT-PRO Programme reflects a shared effort to support the national talent development agenda, particularly in the semiconductor sector, which is increasingly important to Malaysia’s economic growth and global competitiveness.

Professor Azlan highlighted that the implementation of SAT-PRO, formerly known as Semiconductor Assembly, Test, Marking and Packaging (ATMP), marks an important milestone in higher education as it introduces an industry-driven learning approach.

“Through this initiative, students are better prepared with relevant knowledge and practical skills that meet current industry demands, while universities are able to align academic delivery with real-world applications,” he added.

He further emphasised that through SAT-PRO, students gain exposure to real industry practices and professional standards, while USM strengthens its curriculum and lecturers’ industry engagement.

“The university also expressed appreciation to Micron for supporting staff training, which enabled the introduction of two new elective courses for the 2025/2026 Academic Session, and looks forward to continued collaboration in education, research and talent development,” said Professor Azlan.

Meanwhile, Micron Memory Malaysia Vice President, Mr. Ramu Iyer, explained that the semiconductor industry plays a key role in supporting technologies such as artificial intelligence, automotive systems and advanced manufacturing.

He pointed out that Micron operates across the full semiconductor value chain and holds nearly 49 percent of the global automotive memory market, reflecting the importance of talent and innovation in driving industry growth.

Mr. Ramu further noted that the SAT-PRO Programme was introduced as part of Micron’s long-term commitment to strengthen Malaysia’s semiconductor ecosystem by bridging the gap between academic learning and industry needs.

He added that following its success in India, the programme was brought to Malaysia through collaboration with USM and adapted to meet local academic requirements, and to date, 27 lecturers and 104 USM students have completed the programme, which combines virtual learning with hands-on training.

The Vice President observed that the initiative has since expanded nationwide, involving more than 10 universities and over 270 participants, in line with Malaysia’s National Semiconductor Strategy to develop a skilled and future-ready workforce.

Also present were the Vice-Chancellor of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Professor Dr. Suffian Jusoh; the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Electronic Technology representing the Vice-Chancellor of Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UNIMAP), Associate Prof. Ir. Ts. Dr. Razaidi Hussin; the Vice-Chancellor of UOW Malaysia KDU Penang University College, Professor Dr. Chong Beng Keok; and the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and International) of Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM), Professor Dr. Mohd Rizal Salleh.

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