Volkswagen Group Malaysia (VGM) together with Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP) have formed a new partnership last week when they sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). This partnership will in turn enhance the current education, research, and technology in automotive together with one of Malaysia’s leading technical universities.

The ceremony which was held at UPM’s Pekan campus saw the agreement made official by UMP’s Vice Chancellor Professor, Dato’ Sri Dr. Daing Nasir Ibrahim and VGM’s Pekan Plant Manager, Danny Auerswald.

The signing ceremony was witnessed by Deputy Dean Associate Professor of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Manufacturing (FKMP), Dr. Nik Mohd Zuki Nik Mohamed. VGM and Pekan Volkswagen Head of Pilot Hall, Nor Hayati Othman.

According to VGM’s Danny Auerswald, “We are very pleased to partner with UMP and we are looking forward to working closely with the students in recognising their talents and hard work. Talent cultivation is something that is actively practiced at Volkswagen AG, and it is great that we are able to be working with local students for this. We are confident that the students at UMP will have plenty to learn and benefit from this collaboration.”

Apart from making leaps in the automotive industry, the partnership will also aim at developing autotronics technology, supplying the country’s workforce with high-skilled individuals, and enhance their overall efforts on students in the electronic and programming streams.

A new platform will also give ample opportunities for academic developments and researches to be linked more directly with the ever-evolving automotive industry. Other aspects like sharing of content and experts in the field with also assist in the advancement of the technical, engineering and vocational education (TVET).

This is indeed an amazing initiative in further developing our local minds and talents with global knowledge supplied by VGM via its assembly plant which is currently assembling four Volkswagen models locally; Polo, Vento, Passat, and Tiguan.

Volkswagen Group Malaysia has pledged to share their expertise, resources, and knowledge on German engineering via its plant in Pekan where UMP students will be given the opportunity to complete their internships and ultimately expand their practical understanding.