The launch of Universiti Kuala Lumpur’s (UniKL) first off-campus Teaching Factory, operating within the premises of Fassi Asia Pacific Sdn Bhd – its industry partner specialising in crane technology – marks a significant milestone in strengthening Malaysia-Italy cooperation.
A collaboration led by Fassi Asia Pacific chief executive officer Michele Dossi, who also serves as president of the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Malaysia, the UniKL-Fassi Teaching Factory in Nilai, Negri Sembilan, will provide technical and vocational education and training (TVET) talent with a real industrial learning environment.
Deputy Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Rubiah Wang, who officiated the launch on Jan 20, expressed hope that the collaboration would inspire more multinational corporations and local small and medium enterprises to partner with TVET institutions under the ministry (KKDW).
Rubiah said the establishment of the UniKL-Fassi Teaching Factory is a strategic initiative under the TVET@KKDW agenda, aimed at strengthening the development of the nation’s highly skilled talent.
The distinctive feature of the teaching factory, she added, lies in its full implementation within an actual industrial environment, where learning takes place on the operational floor with real machines, real standard operating procedures and real products.
“All these provide students with direct, hands-on experience and practical exposure to industrial operations.
“With competency-based TVET, we are committed to producing industry-ready graduates who do not merely understand machines in theory, but are also fully capable of operating, maintaining and troubleshooting them under real-world industrial demands.
“This will address concerns raised by industries about the skills gap and skills mismatch among graduates,” she said in a press release.
Thanking the Italian Embassy in Malaysia for its continuous support, she said collaborations with Italian institutions and industry partners bring invaluable expertise, best practices and technological innovation that greatly enrich the nation’s TVET ecosystem and strengthen efforts to produce globally competitive, industry-ready talent.
Separately, GE Aerospace announced a US$125,000 (RM490,688) commitment to the UniKL Malaysian Institute of Aviation Technology (UniKL MIAT) in Selangor to support a series of new initiatives designed to expand aviation education and workforce training across the country.
The pledge, made on Dec 6 last year, will see GE Aerospace providing funding for programmes developed by UniKL MIAT under the team name FLYTE (Future Leaders in Youth Technical Empowerment) and its partners, including the Youth Aviation Club Malaysia and the Centre for Women Advancement and Leadership.
The initiatives will focus on inspiring interest in aviation among secondary students, bridging industry readiness gaps through technical skills, and advancing instructor excellence and leadership development.
GE Aerospace Engine Services Malaysia managing director and executive plant leader Kong Hon Leong said Malaysia has long been a regional leader in aviation education, adding that amid the evolving opportunities and challenges in today’s aviation landscape, it is critical for fresh graduates and professionals to continuously upskill and remain competitive.
“With this grant, we are committed to building a skilled aviation workforce ready to shape the future of flight,” he said.
UniKL deputy president (international, industrial and institutional partnership) Prof Dr Azmi Hassan said the programme will not only empower students and instructors but also enhance Malaysia’s position in the global aerospace industry.
