Nurturing Malaysia's Plastics Industry Next Generation
Enhancing Plastics Education and Innovation through Malaysia Plastic Industry Partnerships
A pivotal collaboration has been officially established to help to boost the Malaysian plastics industry. Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (TAR UMT) has joined forces with the Malaysian Plastics Manufacturers Association (MPMA) and HWAMDA Malaysia Sales & Services Sdn Bhd, formalizing their commitment through a signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). This strategic alliance is designed to accelerate research and development, facilitate critical knowledge exchange between academia and industry, and expand essential educational and training opportunities within the sector.
Professor Ir. Dr. Lee Sze Wei, President of TAR UMT, highlighted the partnership's crucial role in establishing an integrated platform for education, innovation, and professional growth, benefiting both students and faculty within the Faculty of Engineering and Technology. The extensive scope of this collaboration includes:
Joint academic research initiatives focusing on plastics technology
Targeted talent recruitment and specialized training programs for the plastics sector
Valuable industry-specific internship opportunities
Provisions for academic scholarships
Development of industry-aligned curriculum to meet market demands
A cornerstone of this partnership is HWAMDA Malaysia's generous sponsorship of an industrial-grade
injection molding machine. This state-of-the-art equipment will substantially enhance TAR UMT's capabilities in both teaching and research related to plastics processing. Furthermore, TAR UMT is dedicated to incorporating contemporary industry insights into its new academic programs, such as the "Bachelor of Honors in Materials and Manufacturing Technology" and the "Bachelor of Honors in Manufacturing and Industrial Technology." This ensures that graduates are exceptionally well-prepared for the evolving landscape of plastics manufacturing and innovation.
Dato' Noraini Soltan, Vice President of MPMA, underscored the instrumental contribution of the Industrial Skills Framework (IndSF), developed by HRD Corp. This framework will be a key guide for TAR UMT's curriculum design, directly aiming to improve graduate employability and minimize the need for extensive retraining by future employers. She also emphasized the robust employment landscape within the Malaysian plastics industry, noting that approximately 1,400 companies collectively employ around 160,000 individuals, presenting diverse and stable career paths.
Cultivating the future of Malaysia Plastic Industry
Mr. Gan, Managing Director of HWAMDA Malaysia, introduced the "Plastics Industry · I Care 2024" (PI.IC2024) project. This innovative initiative, developed in conjunction with TAR UMT and MPMA under the "2.5U1I" plan, is specifically designed to cultivate highly skilled talent essential for the industry's sustained growth. The PI.IC2024 project actively seeks to encourage more university graduates to pursue engineering and technology specializations. This proactive approach aims to effectively address the existing talent shortage within the broader plastics sector and align with Malaysia's long-term industrialization objectives.
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