Curtin Malaysia and Keysight Technologies collaborate to advance engineering capabilities and enhance talent pool

Miri – 22 June 2017 – The recent IEEE Digital Maker Expo held at Curtin University, Malaysia (Curtin Malaysia) saw the university strengthen collaboration with Keysight Technologies through an exchange of memorandum of understanding (MoU). Both parties will collaborate to elevate engineering competency and boost the employability of graduates through competitive engineering programmes.

Pro Vice-Chancellor, President and Chief Executive, Professor Jim Mienczakowski and General Manager, Lee Choon Seng were present during the ceremony to represent Curtin Malaysia and Keysight Technologies, respectively.

The MoU lays out an avenue for Curtin Malaysia to collaborate with Keysight Technologies to produce competent, employable and talented graduates to sustain industrial growth through competitive engineering programmes; to enhance university-industry collaboration in pursuing cutting-edge research to meet market demand; and to provide technical services and continuous talent development to support local industries and communities.

Such collaboration will benefit societies and bring about a real contribution to technological and economic development in Malaysia.

Curtin Malaysia’s Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) Department within its Faculty of Engineering and Science will play a significant role in developing and conducting programmes and activities relevant to the MoU.

According to Professor Mienczakowski, the exchange of MoU with Keysight Technologies marks another milestone in building critical alliances between Curtin Malaysia with its industry partners.

“We are always committed towards industry-connected innovative teaching and research to develop internationally focused graduates committed to excellence and we achieve this by engaging actively at all levels across all key industry sectors” added Professor Mienczakowski.

Meanwhile, Lee emphasised Keysight Technologies’ support in boosting engineering excellence and developing Malaysia’s talent pipeline through experiential learning.

“It is crucial for us to continue investing in research and development as well as talent to enhance the learning experiences of students. This will ensure that they are well equipped with practical and hands-on experience to address the engineering challenges of today while anticipating solutions for tomorrow,” said Lee.

Dean of Curtin Malaysia’s Faculty of Engineering and Science, Professor Ir. Lau Hieng Ho remarked that the collaboration between university-industry is the key to nurture youth to be future leaders.

“This MoU exchange has strongly engaged the industry linkage in teaching and learning,” said Professor Lau in his speech.

Prior to the MoU exchange, the ECE Department has been fully utilising the Keysight Reference Laboratory established at Curtin Malaysia in October 2014. The laboratory was designed to equip students with up-to-date technical knowledge and skills to move them into a new era of technological advancement. It is also a platform to promote a culture of innovation and invention by creating opportunities for the engineering community to be involved in research and development.

The recent IEEE Digital Maker Expo was a national event aimed at promoting engineering, science and technology among students and other members of communities in East Malaysia initiated by the Institute of Electric and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Curtin Malaysia Student Branch with the support from IEEE Industrial Application Society (IAS); IEEE Women in Engineering (WIE) and IEEE Malaysia Section.

The event was supported by a number of industry partners, including Keysight Technologies, Tekmark, Shell Malaysia, SIRIM Measurements Technology, Tektronix, EPC Synergy, KVC Industrial Supplies, Rockwell Automation and Curtin Cube.

Curtin Malaysia has a very close affiliation with IEEE through its commitment to course accreditation and industry engagement and, in addition to IEEE membership of its academic staff, saw the establishment of the IEEE Curtin Malaysia Student Branch in 2008. The student branch has presently a membership of over 100 students. To find out more about the Curtin Malaysia IEEE Student Branch, visit its Facebook page at www.facebook.com/CurtinSarawak.IEEE.

Professor Mienczakowski exchanging MoU documents with Keysight Technologies General Manager Lee Choon Seng while Professor Ir Lau looks on.