Collaboration in Creating Today’s Talents: Dialogue Session with AIMST University

MIDA attended a dialogue session with the Board of Directors, Top Management, and Deans of the AIMST University on 22 September 2020 in Bedong, Kedah.The engagement aimed to share the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA)’s role in spearheading the nation’s investment agenda and the critical role assumed by higher education institutions in producing job-ready talents.

Mr. S. Sivasuriyamoorthy, Executive Director of Investment Promotion, MIDA highlighted in his presentation of the new growth areas on Science and Technology, Innovation and Economy (STIE) ecosystem framework, referred to as the 10-10 STIE. This framework integrates the 10 technology and socio-economic drivers to raise the dynamics of the Malaysian economy. Among the major new growth areas under STIE include Industry 4.0; Next Generation Engineering and Manufacturing; Advanced Material for Circular Economy and Sustainable Society; Next-Gen Smart Factories; Manufacturing of Smart Devices and Technology Development.

AIMST University is a well-known institution that promotes Health Sciences programmes, namely Medical, Dental and Pharmacy courses in Malaysia.

The University’s Engineering degree programmes are supported by the industry players and Government organisations such as MIDA. The University plans to upgrade and modernise its industrial laboratories, in the Analogue and Digital Electronics; Electrical Machines, Microprocessor and Microcontroller; Power Electronics; and Radio frequencies (RF) Communication. The laboratories are mainly used by engineering students to conduct research and development (R&D) to align with the current industrial needs, especially in the electrical and electronics (E&E) sector.

Moving forward, MIDA will work closely with AIMST University on setting up an Industry Advisory Panel (IAP), Internship Programmes, and Commercialisation of their R&D findings. MIDA will also support the institution to ensure their jobready talents are able to cater to the needs of high technology industries.