Curtin University Malaysia (Curtin Malaysia) recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Schneider Electric, the leader of digital transformation of energy management and automation, to strengthen its offerings in providing practical and internationally recognised courses, designed with direct industry input. This partnership will take the university a step further in enabling students to graduate with real-world skills and knowledge they need in the ever-changing global marketplace.
Signing on behalf of Curtin Malaysia was Pro Vice-Chancellor, President and Chief Executive Professor Simon Leunig, while Country General Manager Malaysia & Brunei, Astri Ramayanti signed on behalf of Schneider Electric.
The areas of collaboration are aimed at building industry-relevant learning experiences for Curtin Malaysia’s engineering students through knowledge transfer and talent development activities. The collaboration includes jointly organising technical talks, virtual and physical site visits, competitions, and workshops for the students. This is also a follow up to a series of online industrial talks and virtual site visits to Schneider Electric’s facilities organised last year, which has greatly benefitted the students in having a better understanding of the industry.
Schneider Electric will also contribute to the syllabus and course content development at Curtin Malaysia through the appointment of company professionals to the Faculty of Engineering and Science’s Industry Advisory Panel. Furthermore, given Curtin Malaysia’s strengths in applied research and Schneider Electric’s expertise in energy management and automation, both parties will explore collaboration in research projects to develop new applications, products, software, and services for domestic and industrial applications.
To support students’ career development, Schneider Electric will provide internship, employment, industry networking and field service project opportunities for Curtin Malaysia students across different disciplines. The company will also provide career guidance, as well as organise mentoring sessions and speaking engagements to ensure students are career-ready when they graduate. As for the academic staff, Schneider Electric will be supporting the upskilling of academics at Curtin Malaysia’s Faculty of Engineering and Science through software and equipment sponsorships and training.
Astri Ramayanti Dharmawan, Country General Manager for Schneider Electric Malaysia and Brunei said to realise the true potential in the digital transformation of energy management and automation, companies need to tap into the next generation to unleash new opportunities and ideas that requires bold moves and step changes. Through strategic and meaningful partnerships with external education parties, Schneider Electric wants to give future leaders a chance to explore career possibilities through breadth and depth real-world experience as well as for the company to drive diverse talent recruitment into the organisation earlier on.
“Schneider Electric is committed to empowering Malaysian students, ensuring the opportunities to foster sustainability and digital knowledge can reach its full potential through quality local and international talents. Hence, we are pleased to collaborate with partners like Curtin Malaysia in equipping the future workforce by developing the real-world skills needed as part of the preparation for ‘Future-ready Talents’ in Malaysia, in line with the country’s MyDIGITAL blueprint,” she added.
Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Science, Professor Tuong-Thuy Vu, said the close collaboration with Schneider Electric in the coming years will be crucial to enhancing effective learning at Curtin Malaysia, as well as to student and staff career development and research.
“Industry exposure and engagement feature largely in the curriculum of our engineering programmes, as does work-integrated learning and internship opportunities. Good networking with industry players also helps when it comes to job placements for our graduates, and in knowledge transfer, upskilling and joint research for staff,” he said.
Echoing Professor Vu’s comments, senior lecturer Ir. Dr. Lim Chye Ing, who is chair of the Faculty’s Industrial and External Relations Committee, remarked that with representatives from Schneider Electric on the Industry Advisory Panel, Curtin Malaysia will benefit from their industrial input in ensuring the relevancy and effectiveness of its courses.
Through this partnership, Curtin Malaysia and Schneider Electric believe that it is more important now than ever to work hand-in-hand in moulding future industry leaders starting by providing students with a quality education through first-hand industry experience.
