Training home-grown Perak engineering talent

QUEST International University Perak’s (QIU) industry-based engineering programmes are off to a flying start following the university’s new partnership with manufacturing giant Salutica Allied Solutions.

The two parties signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) to develop and implement a hybrid academic-industrial programme that will produce competent, employable engineers. QIU chief operating officer Nicholas Goh and Salutica Allied Solutions deputy chief executive officer Joshua Lim represented their respective organisations in sealing the deal.

The aim of the programme is to create a pool of talent that will sustain industrial growth via industry-led programmes that focus on domain knowledge in engineering. Under this programme, QIU undergraduates will enjoy 40 weeks of industrial attachment through the four-year programme.

Lessons will commence for students of QIU’s Bachelor of Electronics Engineering (Communication) with Honours and Bachelor of Mechatronics Engineering in April next year. In signing the MoA, both parties successfully outlined their roles in executing the curriculum, such as student selection, industrial attachment and finalyear projects.

“This programme is one of many industrial collaborations. We believe in giving our students industry-relevant skills that allow them to make immediate impact in their respective companies,” says Goh.

He shares that QIU aims to produce graduates who will be able to contribute to the local economy. “This programme increases the chances of retaining talent in Perak. Students will be familiar with the companies they’re attached to, increasing their chances of being hired by these companies.”

Lim says the partnership would fulfil both partners’ needs while also grooming talent for Ipoh’s industries.

“With manufacturing technology and facilities in Perak, students don’t have to go to Kuala Lumpur or Penang to find jobs.”

He believes the new curriculum would help close the gap between academia and industry, saying, “A lot of time and effort is spent on training fresh graduates and bringing them up to speed.

“It’s vital that we engage early with educational institutions such as QIU to bridge this gap.”

Look out for the advertisement in this StarSpecial.