The renewed MoUs are exchanged between Prof Ir Lee (left) and Dato’ Tan (right) while UTAR Council member Hew Fen Yee looks on.
KAMPAR, 27 FEBRUARY 2014: Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) and Infineon Technologies (Kulim) Sdn Bhd exchanged a renewed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at UTAR Perak Campus on 27 February 2014. Representing UTAR was Vice President for R&D and Commercialisation Prof Ir Dr Lee Sze Wei, while Infineon was represented by Dato’ Tan Soo Hee, the President and Managing Director of Infineon Technologies (Kulim) Sdn Bhd. Infineon is a world leader in the production of semiconductors and system solutions for automotive and industrial electronics, chip cards and security applications.
Today’s exchange marked the renewal of a pact that was first signed by both parties in 2011. Under the latest MoU, the two parties agreed to join hands to continue collaborative research and development to include, among others, mutual visits by staff members to pursue research, training and to organise and participate in seminars, conferences, workshops and publications; study visits and industrial attachment by UTAR under- and post-graduate students for the purpose of enhancing students’ learning experience and R&D; and Infineon staff to undertake training or academic programmes such as PhD studies and research activities in UTAR.
Speaking at the ceremony, Prof Ir Lee said, “For the past three years of partnership with Infineon, we have achieved a significant number of milestones that benefit our students greatly. Infineon also played an instrumental role in linking UTAR to several universities in Germany.” He added, “The number of students pursuing Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) is on rapid decline. At present, only 30% of secondary school students in Malaysia are enrolled in Science stream, which is short of the 60% target the nation needs to maintain robust economic growth. UTAR is working with the government to address this worrying trend and would like to appeal to all our industry partners, including Infineon, to offer inputs on how to increase interest in STEM among students of all education levels.”
In his address, Dato’ Tan said, “Kampar has been transformed by UTAR and the visionary leadership behind it. Infineon is proud to be associated with outstanding organisations and UTAR is undoubtedly one of them, judging from the remarkable success UTAR achieved since its launch in the past decade.” He added, “Our industry is extremely competitive and our people is the essential force behind our progress. Infineon enjoys collaborating with UTAR because it is open and willing to adapt to changes to meet the competitive industry demands. UTAR graduates are readily employable and know more than a typical greenhorn.”
The renewal of the MOU signifies the strengthening of UTAR’s collaboration with Infineon and elevates the partnership to a higher plane towards the advancement of knowledge, innovation and academic excellence. The renewed MOU will further expand on the areas of collaboration, exchanges, joint projects, talks and workshops and to establish contacts to develop R&D collaborations.”
After the MoU exchange, Infineon Technologies presented two awards, namely, Infineon Best Electronic Engineering Student Award worth RM3,000 and Infineon Best Electronic Engineering Final Year Project Award worth RM2,000 to Choi Ngai Nam and Cheok Choon Hon respectively. Both Choi and Cheok are electronic engineering graduands from UTAR Faculty of Engineering and Green Technology (FEGT).
(Left to right) Posing for a group photo during the mock cheque presentation for Infineon Best Electronic Engineering Student Award and Infineon Best Electronic Engineering Final Year Project Award are, (from left) University of Applied Sciences Regensburg Prof Dr Rupert Schreiner, UTAR FEGT Dean Dr Yap Vooi Voon, Prof Ir Lee, Cheok, Choy, Hew, Dato’ Tan, Frontend Technology Senior Director Diewald Wolfgang and Infineon Technologies (Kulim) Sdn Bhd Director of Technology Tan Soon Keong.
