Mohamad Kadim (left) exchanges the MoA with Shakor as Len Talif (centre) looks on. — Photos by Muhammad Rais Sanusi
Len Talif (centre) addressing reporters at the press conference. Seen from left are Shakor, Mohamad Kadim, Mariani, Mohd Ali and Mohd Fuad.
A section of the crowd at the opening of the three-day Unimas STEM EnCon 2015 which ends tomorrow.
Another section of the crowd at the opening of the conference.
KUCHING: Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) has inked a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with six engineering industry players in a bid to play a significant role in promoting and developing technology in the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE).
The exchange of agreements, between the university’s Faculty of Engineering with Shorefield, One Medicare, X-Fab Sarawak, Sacofa, Infra Tech Geo Solutions and Elcorp Technology, took place at the opening of Unimas STEM EnCon 2015 here yesterday.
Unimas vice chancellor Prof Dato Dr Mohamad Kadim Suaidi said the university is constantly looking for ways to improve its strength in research and development. Through this collaboration, he hoped for more similar industrial engagement in the future that could lead to a better society.
“We are hoping to synergise the strength of our Engineering Faculty with the objective of STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education. As the only full-fledged public university in Sarawak, we would like to play a significant role to promote and develop the technology in SCORE.
“We are in the midst of setting up our research centre in Mukah and we will ensure our degree programmes will produce sufficient and qualified workforce for SCORE in many years to come,” he added when delivering his speech at the opening of the engineering conference.
Others present included Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Office (Promotion of Technical Education) Datu Len Talif Salleh who officiated at the event.
At a press conference later on, Mohamad Kadim pointed out the six companies represent a different discipline which can collaborate with the various departments under Unimas Engineering Faculty; namely Department of Civil Engineering, Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering and Department of Chemical Engineering and Energy Sustainability.
He mentioned that Sacofa specialises in telecommunication while Shorefield, X-Fab and Elcorp Technology are in electrical and electronic engineering. One Medicare is into biomedical and training in healthcare. Infra Tech Geo Solutions, meanwhile, specialises in soft soil.
Representing the industry players yesterday were X-Fab Sarawak chief executive officer Mike Young, One Medicare chief executive officer Mohd Ali Mohd Nor, Sacofa head of Engineering and Implementation Ahmad Fuad Abdul Kadir, Shorefield executive director Mariani Morshidi and Infra Tech Geo Solutions regional director Dr Shakor Badaruddin who also represented Elcorp Technology.
“On a whole, these collaborations will help the university in its niche, which is renewable energy. Unimas has established a Centre of Renewable Energy (CREN) to gather expertise from various fields in its collaboration effort. The centre has continuously secured numerous consultancy projects related to green technology and renewable energy,” he continued.
The eighth edition of the university’s engineering conference this year is held in collaboration with Sarawak Bumiputera Trust Fund (Tegas) and the state Education Department with the theme ‘Engaging Industries and Society through Innovative Engineering and Technology’.
This theme is in line with the mission of the local government and non-governmental bodies to encourage engineers and practitioners to work hand in hand with academicians and scientists around the world towards the betterment of engineering in this country.
Among the key focus of the conference are partnership and promotion of STEM. The main feature of the conference included three prominent keynote addresses by Prof Dr Nasruddin Abdul Rahim from Universiti Malaya and Assoc Prof Dr Tan Kay Chen from National University of Singapore.
EnCon 2015 also features a STEM forum on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) to support the development of sustainable workforce for Sarawak.
Recently, Unimas and Tegas have agreed on establishing a STEM lab in its Faculty of Engineering which will function as the core activity centre in promoting and creating awareness of the importance of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.