UTM and DHL Asia Pacific Shared Services Sign MoU

Prof. Madya Dr. Sumiaty Ambran

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 21 – Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) and DHL Asia Pacific Shared Services (APSSC) have officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen partnerships in nurturing talent, fostering innovation, and developing industry-ready graduates. During the ceremony, the MoU was signed by Prof. Dr. Mohd Shafry Mohd Rahim, Vice-Chancellor of UTM, and Aderlinda Gonzales, Global Head of Finance Shared Services Asia Pacific, DHL, and witnessed by Assoc. Prof. Ir. Ts. Dr. Nurulakmar Mohd Husain, the Dean of Malaysia-Japan International Institute of Technology (MJIIT), and Tharaka De Silva, the DHL APSSC Human Resource Director.

group photo dhl — Aderlinda Gonzales (left) and Prof. Dr. Mohd Shafry Mohd Rahim (right) at the MoU signing ceremony

DHL is the global leader in the logistics industry, offering a wide range of services including international shipping, supply chain management, and e-commerce solutions. With operations in over 220 countries and territories, DHL is known for its innovative approach to logistics and its commitment to embracing advanced technologies to meet customer needs. Based in Petaling Jaya, DHL APSSC is a regional division of DHL that specializes in providing centralised support services, including finance, IT, and customer service, across DHL’s operations in the Asia Pacific region.

This collaboration builds on earlier successful initiatives between UTM’s MJIIT and DHL APSSC, which included co-hosting the “Digital Automation Challenge” and other events designed to provide students with real-world problem-solving opportunities. The partnership has already borne fruit, with Software Engineering (SE) students from MJIIT currently interning at DHL, and several UTM MJIIT alumni securing full-time positions within the company.

In his address, Prof. Dr. Mohd Shafry emphasized the importance of maintaining strong industry ties to enrich UTM’s curriculum and ensure students are equipped to meet global market demands.

“We are committed to working closely with industry leaders like DHL to develop programs that not only enhance our curriculum but also provide students with real-world exposure and opportunities,” he said.

Meanwhile, Aderlinda Gonzales, highlighted DHL’s commitment to fostering local talent and exploring new opportunities for collaboration with academic institutions.

“This partnership is a step toward strengthening our relationship with UTM, particularly MJIIT, where we have already seen outstanding contributions from student interns and alumni. We look forward to further innovation and collaboration that will benefit both organizations,” she remarked.

In addition, DHL’s adoption of advanced technologies, such as AI-driven tools and multilingual voice translation systems, enhances its ability to serve global customers and streamline operations. UTM and DHL aim to explore opportunities to integrate such technologies into joint projects and research initiatives, ensuring students are prepared for the challenges of the digital economy.

This MoU is a significant milestone in strengthening industry-academia ties, enabling UTM, through MJIIT, to remain a leader in education and research, while preparing its graduates to meet the evolving demands of global markets.