Preparing IT savvy graduates

(From left) Tinawin, Tan, Ahmad Rizan and Thillai after the signing of the memorandum of understanding.

INTI and Mimos Berhad recently signed a memorandum of understanding to officially seal their on-going efforts, which will benefit both students and faculty members.

The academic-industry collaboration, which began nearly three years ago, started off as a way to connect students with industry by engaging them in a series of employer projects that provided them with practical experience and exposure to actual business issues.

The partnership has since grown in leaps and bounds with Mimos’ involvement in various initiatives, including the enhancement of INTI’s IT curriculum through its Industry Advisory Board.

At the core of this collaboration is the goal of developing IT savvy graduates with insights to industry trends and an expanded knowledge into rapid changes such as automation and analytics which are already impacting the nation’s workforce and society.

INTI International University & Colleges chief financial officer Tan Lin Nah and Mimos Berhad president and chief executive officer Ahmad Rizan Ibrahim signed the memorandum of understanding.

“INTI recognises the significance of aligning our academic efforts to employers’ needs and values the insights our partner employers bring in enhancing our students’ learning experiences.

“We are committed to ensuring that our students not only gain certifications but the competencies needed for the workplace, and are pleased to collaborate with Mimos in doing just that,” said Tan in her opening remarks at the ceremony.

As a government agency dedicated to ICT research and education, Ahmad Rizan, shared Mimos’ keen support to help institutions of higher learning expand their curriculum and experiences in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

He said such collaborations provide opportunities to create spaces where both industry and academics can discuss the growth of these areas and how it translates into what can be achieved individually and for the country.

The ceremony was witnessed by staff and faculty from Mimos Berhad and INTI.

INTI alumnus Eljae Lee Leong Jian who completed a Bachelor of Computer Science at the University of Wollongong, shared his experience on working on a project with Mimos Berhad in a session.

The 21-year-old, who is now working with KPMG, spoke on how he learned to use the Internet of Things and technology in analysing the competitive growth of markets and its impact on consumers.

Thanks to the guidance and support from both INTI’s faculty members and Mimos’ representatives, Eljae and his team mates were able to successfully complete the project and present their findings to the relevant stakeholders.

INTI’s students have the right skills and tools to succeed in a highly competitive work environment thanks to its partnerships with over 450 employers.

Also at the event were INTI International University & Colleges senior vice president, Career Service, Jess Tinawin and MIMOS Berhad chief technology officer Thillai Raj T Ramanathan.