UTEM RECEIVES RM51 MLN ENDOWMENT GRANT TO EMPOWER AEROSPACE TVET

MELAKA, Feb 26 (Bernama) -- Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM) has received an endowment grant contribution of RM51 million from Aeronas Aerocraft Sdn Bhd for the purpose of highlighting aerospace Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).

UTeM, in a statement, announced that the contribution was presented by Aeronas managing director and acting chief executive officer Raja Shazreen Petra to UTeM vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Massila Kamalrudin during the Malaysian Technical University Network (MTUN) Research Academia Conference with Industry 2026, recently.

The ceremony was also witnessed by Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir and was also attended by the director-general of the Higher Education Department Prof Datuk Dr Azlinda Azman and the chairman of the UTeM Board of Directors Datuk Dr Husaini Omar.

Meanwhile, Massila in the same statement said that the contribution could assist UTeM in intensifying efforts to strengthen the aerospace TVET field, as well as being a strategic leap to ensure that the university continues to be dynamic and a main reference.

She said the grant reflected the industry's trust in UTeM and the establishment of a strategic relationship between the university and the industry, which had a very positive direct impact.

She said the Aeronas support would also further enhance aerospace capabilities in addition to UTeM's advanced manufacturing capabilities as well as the integration between industry programmes and academic platforms.

"With the continuous support of the industry, this will also be a catalytic instrument to unlock national grants, matching funds and strategic investments.

"It can even propel UTeM as a centre of excellence that supports industry certification, manufacturing readiness, applied research and development and talent development," she said in the statement.

Massila said the effort was in line with the government's aspiration to make Malaysia a major aerospace hub in the Southeast Asian region with a highly skilled workforce and a strong and competitive industrial ecosystem.

She said the aerospace TVET programme would be carried out entirely at the university's Faculty of Mechanical Technology and Engineering (FTKM) and Faculty of Manufacturing Industry Technology and Engineering (FTKIP).

She said at the same time, UTeM was also collaborating in the aerospace TVET field globally with the Moscow Aviation Institute from Russia.

-- BERNAMA