SCHOOL OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING HOSTS INDUSTRY ENGAGEMENT DAY AND STUDENT DESIGN EXHIBITION TO STRENGTHEN LINKS BETWEEN ACADEMIA AND INDUSTRY

NIBONG TEBAL, 3 July 2024 – The school of Mechanical Engineering, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), today hosted the Industry Engagement Day and Student Design Exhibition, serves as a key platform to foster stronger collaboration between the industry and the university.

In her opening speech, Professor Datin Dr. Azlina highlighted the significance of this event in aligning academic efforts with industry needs while underscoring the critical role of USM in supplying the industry with skilled graduates, thereby reinforcing industry confidence in USM's academic prowess.

“USM is prepared to cultivate future-ready talents, ensuring that our students possess the requisite attributes, such as critical thinking and problem-solving, to facilitate continuous improvement in the quality of their education.,” she said.

Additionally, she proposed a collaborative approach whereby USM would work closely with industry partners to align its curriculum with industry demands as well as encouraged them to provide training for students and academic staff through internships and placements.

"Consequently, the curriculum was maintained as up-to-date and future-oriented," Azlina concluded.

In her speech, she also discussed MRI3, the Ministry of Higher Education's (MoHE) Research and Industry-Infused Incubator, an initiative led by USM with Malaysian universities and E&E-related industries, aims to produce industry-ready talents for the E&E industry.

"MRI3 uses a planned approach to meet the need for highly skilled workers by making its graduates more employable and increasing their salaries, to make Malaysia a high-income country with a highly skilled workforce," she explained.

Speaking at the programme, CADFEM's Country Manager, Mr Derrick Gan, emphasised the vital role of industry engagement in bringing academia and industry closer together for future benefit.

"This includes providing equipment to students, sponsoring research and contributing to curriculum development," said Derrick.

He also expressed CADFEM's commitment to fostering the interest of USMs and industry to open doors for more interactive collaboration, with the hope of expanding similar programmes in the future.

"Founded in 1985, CADFEM has always aimed to help universities collaborate in creating human resource readiness, mastering new technologies and ensuring infrastructure readiness, reiterating the company's commitment to supporting initiatives that bridge the gap between the two worlds," he said.

In his address, Associate Professor Dr. Abdullah Aziz Saad, Deputy Dean (Academic, Career & International), representing the Dean of the School of Mechanical Engineering, expressed his hope that the programme would serve as a crucial stepping stone for students preparing to enter the working world.

He also emphasised the importance of students gaining valuable insights from the event's speakers and urged them to actively engage, absorb knowledge and take advantage of the networking opportunities on offer.

"This is to enhance your career readiness and secure promising positions in their future professions," he said.

The Industry Engagement Day and Student Design Exhibition underscore USM's commitment to bridging the gap between academia and industry, ensuring that its graduates are well equipped to meet the evolving demands of the workforce and contribute to Malaysia's growth as a high-income nation.

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