Hong Seng collaborates with USM to skill up students via work placements
27 Jul 2021
Hong Seng Consolidated Bhd, a healthcare industry supply chain management specialist, will collaborate with Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) to provide the latter’s biomedical science students experience in actual industry work operations, as well as education in the field of biomedicine through work placements.
In a bourse filing today, Hong Seng said its 60%-owned indirect subsidiary Neogenix Laboratoire Sdn Bhd (Neogenix Lab) has entered into a three-year collaboration agreement with USM, in respect of the biomedicine programme.
According to Hong Seng, USM, through its School of Health Sciences, is desirous to engage Neogenix Lab on a three-year and one-year study mode for its biomedicine programme, which comprises three years in university and one year of industrial placement where the students’ performance would be monitored.
“This is to meet the industry’s demands for the curriculum of the academic programme to be more fluid and flexible.
“The collaboration will provide the biomedical science students of USM with adequate experience in actual industry work operations and the latest developments, as well as education in the field of biomedicine through their industrial placements at Neogenix Lab in relation to the application of the company’s research and development (R&D) and technology,” it added.
A diagnostic and research laboratory service provider, Neogenix Lab has vast knowledge and experience in R&D in life sciences, particularly in the studies of molecular diagnostics, next generation sequencing, genetics and genomics.
“Through the agreement, Neogenix Lab hopes to help the nation by preparing the next generation of front liners and scientists to better handle future pandemics by providing the students with proper hands-on industrial exposure and required skills,” said Hong Seng.
Under the collaboration, USM will identify and select potential students to be placed and trained at Neogenix Lab, while the firm will provide the place, equipment and guidance and all other related assistance to the students.
Hong Seng said the collaboration is expected to strengthen its corporate image as a responsible corporate citizen, with contribution to the education and betterment of the society’s health and biomedical development.
Hong Seng shares closed unchanged at RM1.68 today, bringing a market capitalisation of RM4.09 billion.
Source: The Edge Markets
