The University of Nottingham Malaysia, Pikom renew collaboration to enhance technology ecosystem in Malaysia

• Renewed MoU broaden horizons beyond Global Business Services
• Collaboration aims to enhance academic standards, foster talent development

The University of Nottingham Malaysia (UNM) and The National Tech Association of Malaysia (Pikom) announced the renewal and expansion of their MoU to further develop industry-academia collaboration that aims to enhance Malaysia’s technology ecosystem.

The MoU was initially signed in 2020 with a specific focus on Global Business Services. This renewed agreement signifies a broader commitment from both parties to collaborate on various initiatives covering the entire ICT industry, as represented by Pikom, in conjunction with the rise of the digital economy in Malaysia.

In light of this renewed MoU, both UNM and Pikom have expressed their intention to extend their collaboration beyond the scope of Global Business Services. Some of the initiatives include:

• Collaborative planning to enhance academic standards, curriculum design, and development
• Developing talent through joint programs, guest lectures, executive education, internship, and training placements
• Promoting innovation through research and development to promote innovation in Malaysia
• Leveraging both parties' areas of expertise for knowledge exchange and making available facilities and resources for the purpose of technology ecosystem development and advisory representation in Malaysia

Dr. Hazel Melanie Ramos, vice provost for Teaching and Learning at the University of Nottingham Malaysia, expressed the university's enthusiasm to extend its partnership with Pikom in order to advance industry-academia collaboration.

"As a prominent higher education institution, we are constantly seeking innovative methods to expose our students to learning experiences beyond the classroom. Through this partnership, we aim to contribute to the technology industry, thereby promoting Malaysia as a technological hub. This endeavor will further cultivate the Malaysian technology ecosystem, fostering an environment conducive to business investments across diverse industries," she added.

Ong Chin Seong (pic), chairman of Pikom said the association’s vision is to support the government’s goal of a digital economy contributing 25.5% to the nation's GDP by the year 2025. 

“This goal could be greater if we are able to boost the digital readiness of our graduates to support the industry at a faster rate. Therefore, it is only fitting for Pikom to directly approach and collaborate with higher institutions such as University of Nottingham Malaysia whose knowledge and expertise are invaluable to our efforts to develop tech talent and the ecosystem,” he said.

In addition, Dr Mandy Sim, associate professor in Services at UNM, was appointed as an advisor on Pikom’s Talent Gap Committee. In this role, she will play a role in bridging the talent gap for the industry and oversee the placements of interns from universities and contribute to the development of other talent programs as part of this partnership. 

Serving as the strategic industry partner for UNM and Pikom, MDEC will act as a pivotal link, facilitating and fostering industry-academia collaboration between the two entities.

According to UNM, since beginning its partnership with Pikom in 2020, both parties have engaged in numerous discussions and initiatives. Notable among these is the launch of UNM-Pikom Academia-Industry Internship Collaboration which offers students the opportunity to gain practical industry experience. Additionally, potential collaborations with Yayasan Tunku Abdul Rahman have been explored, aimed at making a positive impact on underprivileged students seeking higher education opportunities.