Image

The advancement of industry-academia collaboration took another significant step forward, as Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU) formalised a strategic partnership with Central Force International through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

With more than 3,600 completed research projects and a team of over 250 research professionals, Central Force International brings extensive industry expertise in market research, consumer insights, and data analytics to support this collaboration.

Reflecting a shared commitment to advancing artificial intelligence (AI) research, market intelligence, and talent development, while preparing students for the evolving digital economy, the MoU was signed by Professor Dr Ho Chin Kuan, Vice-Chancellor of APU, and Mr See Toh Wai Yu, Chief Executive Officer of Central Force International.

The signing was witnessed by Assoc Prof Dr Thang Ka Fei (Senior Head, School of Technology at APU), Assoc Prof Dr Devinder Kaur (Head, School of Marketing and Management at APU), and Dr Hassan Jamil Syed (Senior Lecturer, School of Technology at APU).

Also present were representatives from Central Force International, reaffirming the company’s commitment to building meaningful partnerships that create lasting impact. 

Strengthening Industry Collaboration through AI and Data Analytics

Speaking during the signing ceremony, Prof Ho emphasised the importance of strengthening industry collaboration to equip students with the skills and experience needed to thrive in the evolving digital economy.

“At APU, we believe meaningful industry partnerships create opportunities for students to transform classroom knowledge into practical solutions.

“Through collaborations such as this, our students will gain valuable industry exposure, while contributing to research and innovation that addresses real-world challenges,” he said.

Sharing Central Force International’s perspective, Mr Wai Yu emphasised the value of combining academic expertise with industry experience to drive innovation.

“By collaborating with APU, we hope to create an ecosystem where students, researchers, and industry professionals can work together to develop practical AI and analytics solutions, while supporting organisations in making better data-driven decisions.”

Creating Meaningful learning Opportunities

Through the collaboration, students will benefit from greater exposure to authentic industry challenges, while enhancing both their technical knowledge and professional competencies.

Among the opportunities made available through the partnership:

1. Industry internships and placements
2. Final Year Projects based on real business challenges
3. Collaborative AI and data analytics research
4. Industry workshops, seminars, and guest lectures
5. Joint publications, conferences, and research grant applications
6. Career development and networking opportunities with industry professionals
    

The collaboration will also encourage joint exploration of emerging technologies, including AI-powered market intelligence, survey automation, Natural Language Processing (NLP), behavioural analytics, and data science applications. 

Fostering Innovation through Industry-Academia Collaboration

By bringing together APU’s expertise in nurturing future proof professionals and fostering innovation with Central Force International’s extensive industry experience in market research and analytics, the partnership creates opportunities for knowledge exchange, practical learning, and the development of AI-driven solutions that contribute to Malaysia’s growing digital economy.

Moving forward, both organisations view the MoU as a foundation for a long-term partnership that will strengthen industry-academia collaboration, nurture emerging talent, and create meaningful impact across academia, industry, and society.