UNIMAP FOSTERS GLOBAL TALENT WITH MALAYSIAN IDENTITY

ARAU, Nov 22 (Bernama) -- Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP) is dedicated to developing global talent grounded in Malaysian values and identity, in line with the Ministry of Higher Education’s (MOHE) focus on the internationalisation of higher education.

Its vice-chancellor, Datuk Prof Dr Zaliman Sauli, said the university has established a global ecosystem through partnerships with 26 countries, involving 139 active memorandums of understanding (MoUs) and memorandums of agreement (MoAs) to date.

He added that UniMAP students are exposed to international programmes, such as the Asia Summer Programme in Thailand, Japan, Indonesia, and South Korea, as well as other initiatives like the ASEAN University Network (AUN), Asia Technological University Network (ATU-Net), Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT), and Asia Applied Artificial Intelligence (A3I).

“Our ‘Engineering4Society’ philosophy ensures that engineering knowledge benefits society, aligning with MOHE's focus on knowledge transfer and sharing. This approach ensures that UniMAP students are not only industry-ready but also prepared for the global stage with strong values,” Zaliman told Bernama recently.

Zaliman further said that UniMAP’s Lab Intensive, Industry-Driven, and Future-Ready learning approach equips students with the skills to solve real-world industry and community challenges, supported by the UniMAP Strategic Plan 2026-2030.

UniMAP is also involved in high-impact industrial research collaborations, such as with Nihon Superior Co Ltd in Japan on semiconductor packaging processes. In addition, 11 UniMAP students are undertaking internships at Nihon Superior (Japan) and TUSAS (Turkiye).

“UniMAP also operates managerial offices overseas in Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta (UMY) and Universitas Al Azhar Indonesia (UNAZ) in Indonesia, as well as in Beijing, China. These academic management centres serve to enhance access, visibility, and strategic partnerships in the ASEAN and East Asia regions,” he added.

Zaliman highlighted the continuous growth of UniMAP’s international mobility programme, with a total of 297 students participating in mobility programmes as of October.

This includes 134 inbound students from Taiwan, India, Thailand, and Indonesia, and 163 outbound students to Thailand, Japan, Turkiye, Indonesia, and China.

Zaliman also noted that UniMAP’s academic focus aligns with the New Industrial Master Plan (NIMP) 2030, covering fields such as Smart Semiconductors & Electronics, Automation & Mechatronics, Artificial Intelligence & Data Analytics, Green Energy & Sustainable Materials, Chemical Technology & Food Technology, and Business & Communications.

UniMAP applies the concept of Industry on Campus, with nine industrial laboratories and three teaching factories at its TVET Centre. Students gain professional certifications from multinational companies like Siemens, Huawei, and Keysight, making them industry-ready.

UniMAP was recently awarded as the runner-up in two categories of the Minister of Higher Education’s Special Awards (AKRI) 2025, namely Blended Learning Experience and Face-to-Face Immersive Learning Experience.

“This reflects the university’s commitment to integrating digital pedagogy, artificial intelligence (AI), and immersive learning in its teaching system,” Zaliman said.

He added that UniMAP’s graduate employability rate reached 98.9 per cent last year, and the university has been recognised as Top Multinational Company (MNC) Preferred Graduate.

 Since its establishment, UniMAP has produced over 42,000 alumni, who now work in more than 20 countries, including Japan, Germany, UAE, South Korea, and Sudan, for global companies such as Intel, Infineon, Bosch, and Petronas.

Of the 42,000 alumni, approximately 10 per cent are entrepreneurs who have created job opportunities in their local communities.

“The success of UniMAP alumni demonstrates the relevance of the university’s technical curriculum, with graduates who are competent, competitive, and globally accepted,” Zaliman said.

-- BERNAMA