MIRI: In a bid to foster stronger ties between academia and industry and government partners, a delegation of 20 academics from the departments of the Faculty of Engineering and Science at Curtin University Malaysia (Curtin Malaysia) went on a five-day engagement visit to various organisations in Kuching recently.
Leading the delegation was the Faculty’s Associate Dean of External Engagement, Associate Professor Ir Dr Lim Chye Ing.
The visit aimed to bridge the gap between academia, industry partners and government institutions to establish connections and explore opportunities for collaboration in teaching, research, and community engagement.
The organisations visited included the Centre of Technical Excellence Sarawak (Centexs), Centre of Excellence for Digital Economy at Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation Berhad (SDEC), Trienekens (Sarawak) Sdn Bhd, Longi Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Sarawak Metro, JKR Sarawak Research Centre, Sarawak Biodiversity Centre, Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB), Sarawak Tropical Peat Research Institute (Tropi), and the Faculty of Engineering at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas).
This unique initiative not only reinforces Curtin Malaysia’s commitment to applied research but also underscores the importance of academia-industry collaboration in driving innovation and advancing knowledge.
The academics engaged with leaders, professionals and experts in the organisations to gain insights into the latest technological advancements, industry best practices, emerging trends, and collectively address challenges spanning a wide array of disciplines.
“This initiative aligns with our commitment to providing our students with a well rounded education that is deeply connected to real world challenges and opportunities. By meeting with the various stakeholders, we were able to identify knowledge gaps in developing industry-ready graduates. We also discussed how our expertise and research strengths could be leveraged to meet their needs,” said Ir Dr Lim.
Ir Dr Lim said the Faculty of Engineering and Science has found that face-to face engagement with stakeholders is very effective in deepening mutual understanding and fostering strong relationships for future collaboration.
A similar visit to organisations mainly in northern and central Sarawak was conducted last year with significant results. She added that such visits are part of Curtin Malaysia’s broader strategy to strengthen collaboration between academia and extemal stakeholders including industry, research institutes and government agencies, fostering innovation, and ensuring that research efforts have a tangible impact on society.
By establishing partnerships with industry leaders, the university aims to create a dynamic ecosystem where knowledge transfer is seamless, and research findings lead to practical solutions.
The academics who went on the visit represented a diverse range of disciplines, including Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Civil and Construction Engineering, Environmental Engineering, and Applied Sciences.
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