Strategic partners: The contingent led by MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong (seventh from left), with representatives from China’s Education Ministry and Huatec, at the ‘International Education Cooperation and Exchange Promotion Conference’.
GOING international is increasingly the direction institutions of higher learning are taking to prepare students for the workforce.
Recognising the need to broaden students’ horizons beyond local shores, VTAR Institute has strengthened its cooperation with vocational colleges and enterprises in China. Its recently signed memorandums of understanding (MoUs) will provide its students with opportunities to attend free short-term courses and exchange programmes at four institutions and one large enterprise in Beijing.
According to its chief executive officer Tan Cheng Liang, VTAR signed MoUs with Beijing Business School, Beijing Industrial Technician College, Beijing Instrumentation Senior Technical School, and Beijing Foreign Trade School during the MCA Central Political Bureau’s visit to Beijing from June 10 to 13.
“VTAR will engage in student exchanges, short-term courses, study tours and academic cooperation with these institutions to enhance students’ mastery of relevant technologies while broadening their international perspectives and networks,” she said in a press release dated June 26.
The vocational institute also signed an MoU with Beijing Huatec Information Technology Co Ltd, witnessed by China’s Education Ministry Centre for Vocational Education Development director Lin Yu, during the visit.
Tan said cooperating with higher vocational institutions and enterprises within China, while leveraging the country’s rapid technological advancements to train local talent in Malaysia, is a “feasible path”.
“It also provides high-quality human resources for the country’s and enterprises’ needs in industrial transformation, as well as high-tech enhancement, application and development,” she added.
During the trip in June, the contingent took part in the “International Education Cooperation and Exchange Promotion Conference” jointly organised by the Centre for Vocational Education Development and Huatec.
They also attended the “Malaysia-China Vocational Education Cooperation Forum” held at Beijing Polytechnic.
Tan said VTAR and Huatec agreed to establish a training and service base at VTAR, such as setting up laboratories, and conducting student exchanges, academic exchanges and other activities to lay a solid foundation.
“It is hoped that the two parties will further deepen cooperation, improve the quality of education, and work together to promote the internationalisation of education, she said, adding that Huatec is a future-oriented educational digital technology company and a leader in integrating industry and education.
Laying the groundwork: Tan (left) and Huatec president Zhang Yu after signing the MoU to establish the training and service base at VTAR.
She also highlighted the preliminary MoU signed with Guangdong Engineering Polytechnic earlier in the year under the leadership of the VTAR board of directors.
“The plan is to introduce two key modules from the industrial robotics technology course for students enrolled in electronic and industrial digitisation programmes at VTAR.
“Students in these fields will have the opportunity to study and exchange in China without tuition fees for a short period. This is great news for our students, allowing them to learn more advanced technologies and skills, thereby equipping them with practical skills to face future challenges,” she said.
Tan expressed the institute’s hopes to introduce more high-tech and advanced technology projects, providing students with a broader development platform through such international cooperation.
“We are actively arranging for students from the electrical engineering and mechatronic installation and maintenance courses to participate in the ‘Malaysia-China Youth Technical and Vocational Education and Training’ programme,” she said.
The programme involves a two-week exchange and learning experience at Chinese vocational institutions focused on new energy technologies.
“Through this exchange programme, we hope not only to broaden our students’ horizons and facilitate interactions with young people from different countries but also to provide our students with the opportunity to learn practical methods and knowledge about new energy, laying a solid foundation for their future development,” she said.
VTAR offers a variety of courses, including programmes in electrical engineering, electronics, mechatronics, beauty, hairdressing and baking. It also offers Malaysia’s first industrial digital automation course, and digital industrialised construction programmes in collaboration with enterprises, and precision mould, tool and parts courses.
