MGT300

Tuesday July 12, 2011

MoU signed to initiate new pharmaceutical programme at UMP

By ROSLINA MOHAMAD

roslina@thestar.com.my

KUANTAN: Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP) and Institute of Technology Tallaght (ITT) from Ireland signed a memorandum of agreement (MoA) to develop a dual bachelor degree programme in engineering technology (pharmaceutical) at its Gambang campus here recently.

The university also signed an MoU with the Malaysian Organisation of Pharmaceutical Industries (MOPI) in a move to address the needs of the pharmaceutical industries.

According to its vice chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Daing Nasir Ibrahim, the collaboration with ITT was part of efforts to ensure UMP continued to remain competitive and relevant by offering technical academic programmes.

“By having ITT as our strategic partner, the university will have better leverage on pharmaceutical manufacturing technology.

“To strengthen this deal, UMP has also entered into a partnership with MOPI since they are the main player of the pharmaceutical industries in Malaysia,’’ he said at the signing ceremony of the MoA and MoU.

State Information, Science, Technology and Innovation chairman Datuk Mohd Sharkar Shamsuddin who represented Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob witnessed the event.

Also present were Republic of Ireland ambassador Declan Kelly, its board of director chairman Datuk Hilmey Mohd Taib, ITT president Pat Maclaughlin and MOPI president Leonard Ariff Abdul Shatar.

Speaking to reporters later, Daing Nasir said the first intake of 30 students for the four-year dual bachelor degree programme would start next year, adding, it was the first of such programmes to be offered in the country.

“Based of the academic programme, the graduates will be ready for the job market without companies having had to fork out additional cost to retrain them.

“Currently, many pharmaceutical companies have to retrain new employees to suit their needs,’’ he added.

Maclaughlin also said ITT agreed to be work with UMP as the institute was attracted to the latter’s strategic view in developing its human resources as well as the facilities it offered.

He said ITT believed the graduates would be a unique lot, encompassing the values of both engineers and scientists, describing them as ‘hybrid students’.

At the same event, UMP also launched its central laboratory which provided comprehensive testing services and facilities for industries including those relating to halal food production.

The university scored another first with the set up of Central Laboratory Services (CLS) which offered technical services, consultancy and training in the form of analysis and testing for chemistry, biotechnology and materials to industries nationwide.