TAIPING, Aug 14 (Bernama) -- The strategic collaboration between Toyo Tyre Malaysia Sdn Bhd and Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP), formalised through a memorandum of understanding (MoU), is expected to provide students with greater exposure to industry practices and enhance graduate employability in line with future workforce needs.
Toyo Tyre Malaysia president and managing director Mike Toh Poh Keong said the collaboration would focus on student training and industrial placements, talent development, professional training and skills enhancement in line with industry requirements.
"It will also cover joint research and innovation projects, as well as knowledge and expertise sharing between industry and academia, to bridge the gap between learning at higher education institutions and the requirements of the workplace," he said in his speech at the MoU signing ceremony here today.
Also present was Deputy Education Minister Wong Kah Woh.
Toh said close collaboration between industry and academia was crucial to ensuring that graduates from higher education institutions possessed the skills and knowledge relevant to industry developments.
"Through this collaboration, we also aim to provide valuable learning opportunities, support research and innovation, and contribute to developing highly skilled graduates who can drive Malaysia's industrial and technological advancement," he said.
Meanwhile, UniMAP deputy vice-chancellor (Research and Innovation) Prof Dr Shahriman Abu Bakar said the collaboration would give students broader exposure to industry practices, while also creating opportunities for joint research and innovation-driven projects.
He said closer ties between higher education institutions and industry could strengthen knowledge-sharing and give students opportunities to apply what they had learnt in real-world settings.
"The collaboration is also expected to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application, enabling graduates to be better prepared for the workforce," he said.
-- BERNAMA