JOHOR BAHRU, Oct 30 – Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) and The Institution of Engineers, Malaysia (IEM) reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening collaboration between academia and the engineering profession through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) exchange ceremony held in conjunction with Majlis Kecemerlangan Akademia UTM 2026 at Dewan Sultan Iskandar, UTM Johor Bahru.

The MoU was exchanged by UTM Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ts. Dr. Mohd Shafry Mohd Rahim, and IEM President, Ir. Yau Chau Fong. The ceremony was witnessed by UTM Board of Directors member, Dato’ Ismail Karim.

The exchange marks another milestone in the strategic partnership between UTM and IEM, established in 2015. Over the years, the collaboration has provided a platform for closer engagement between the university and the professional engineering community, particularly in engineering education, professional development, research and technical knowledge sharing.

The continued partnership reflects both institutions’ commitment to nurturing competent, industry-ready engineering graduates and strengthening the contribution of engineering research and expertise to national development. The MoU outlines key objectives, including advancing joint research and knowledge sharing, facilitating technical cooperation in areas of mutual interest, promoting continuing education and professional development, and implementing community service initiatives that benefit society.

A key focus is the development of engineering students through the active involvement of the IEM Student Section UTM. The student section connects students with the engineering profession by providing opportunities for professional networking, leadership development, industry exposure and engagement with practising engineers.

Initiatives organised over the years include industrial and engineering site visits, international technical exposure, industrial talks, knowledge-sharing sessions, career development programmes, seminars and technical workshops. Among these are A Date With Engineers, which enables students to engage directly with industry practitioners and experience real engineering environments, and Explore to Singapore, which provides international exposure through educational and technical visits. Recent site visits and career talks have further supported experiential learning and industry engagement.

Under the MoU, IEM experts will be involved in delivering lectures, courses and seminars to UTM lecturers and students. Cooperation will also cover career development programmes, employment opportunities, joint research and consultancy, as well as academic meetings, conferences, workshops and short courses in areas of mutual interest.

UTM will also encourage engineering students to pursue IEM membership and participate in professional activities. This will help them develop a professional identity, understand engineering ethics and standards, and prepare for the transition from university to professional practice.

The partnership also offers opportunities for academic staff to strengthen research collaboration, expand consultancy engagement and facilitate knowledge transfer between academia and industry. Through their combined expertise, UTM and IEM aim to contribute to addressing emerging engineering challenges and supporting technological advancement.

The MoU exchange at Majlis Kecemerlangan Akademia UTM 2026, themed “Sinergi Ilmu, Teknologi & Inovasi dalam Academia”, reinforces the enduring relationship between UTM and IEM and their shared aspiration to advance engineering excellence, professional development and the next generation of engineers.