Curtin Malaysia strengthens partnership with Novakey Developers
MIRI: Curtin University Malaysia (Curtin Malaysia) and Novakey Developers Sdn. Bhd signed three Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen their academia-industry partnership.
The university in a statement yesterday said the documents signed included collaboration in education and training with two agreements for collaborative research.
Signing on behalf of Curtin Malaysia was Pro Vice-Chancellor, president and chief executive Professor Jim Mienczakowski while managing director Dato’ David Goh Kien Ping signed for Novakey Developers.
Novakey Developers Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of the Episo Group of Companies is one of the fastestgrowing property developers in Malaysia.
Signing as witnesses were Ir. Professor Lau Hieng Ho, Dean of Curtin Malaysia’s Faculty of Engineering and Science, and Miri City councillor Ariffin Mohamad on behalf of Curtin Malaysia and Novakey Developers, respectively.
Professor Mienczakowski, in his speech during the signing ceremony commented that the memoranda mark a milestone for both organisations in their pursuit of producing graduates in construction technology and civil engineering with cutting-edge research to meet market demands.
The collaboration includes Novakey Developers sponsoring an annual award of RM10,000 for the best project by final-year civil and construction engineering students to be presented at Curtin Malaysia’s annual awards ceremony.
Novakey Developers will also appoint a representative to the Faculty of Engineering and Science Industrial Advisory Committee to develop competitive engineering curricula and learning resources relevant to industry requirements with the university.
In addition, the two organisations will develop industrial placement and graduate training programmes at Novakey Developers to groom talent for the civil and construction engineering sector in Sarawak.
Goh who also spoke remarked that this was a good move as there is a growing demand for engineers to support the state’s development agenda, especially mega infrastructure projects such as the Pan-Borneo Highway.
Under the research memoranda, Novakey Developers will provide some RM230,000 as well as materials to conduct research on high-performance concrete.
Meanwhile, Ir. Professor Lau said his faculty is working to enhance engagement with its industry partners.
The signing of the MoU and research agreements with Novakey Developers was a significant step in that direction.
The initiatives include the establishment of the Curtin Highway Infrastructure Research and Innovation (Chiri) Hub earlier this year which will work with industry to carry out research, provide technical services and innovative solutions to support the ongoing development of the Pan Borneo Highway.
He added that, as testimony of its excellent industry partnerships, the Faculty of Engineering and Science received over RM650,000 in research funding, and some RM1.08 million worth of donated equipment, from industries this year alone.
In addition, it established a Keysight Reference Lab with Keysight Technologies and a Digital Maker Hub with the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDeC) at the campus.
As Curtin University’s largest international campus and global hub in Asia, Curtin Malaysia’s research activity has experienced extremely strong growth over the years, both in volume and significance.
A biotechnology research centre funded by the Sarawak Government which is nearing completion at the campus will significantly boost its already strong research capabilities and closely support the particular research needs of the government and industry.