On August 6 2024, APU welcomed MITI Minister, Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz for a discussion on the critical talent needs of the semiconductor and E&E sector as more investments keep pouring into Malaysia. Chairman of APU, Tunku Ali Redhauddin Tuanku Muhriz, and CEO Datuk Parmjit Singh welcomed the high-level delegation which comprised senior-level executives of MITI and the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE).

The focus of an hour-long discussion held at APU’s campus at Technology Park Malaysia, was on enhancing talent development, fostering deeper collaboration between universities, industries, and government, and addressing challenges in STEM education.

Tengku Zafrul emphasised that “There is now an urgent need for graduates in critical fields like engineering and technology. As such academic programmes must be aligned with industry needs through closer collaboration between universities, government bodies, and industries. For example, work-based learning models, like those employed in Germany, could ensure students acquire industry-relevant skills and technologies, bridging the gap between education and real-world application.”

Reskilling and upskilling of workers have also become crucial as industries embrace new technologies. Therefore, industries should consider supporting ongoing education for their employees, particularly in Malaysia's semiconductor and green investment sectors. This approach aims to keep the workforce relevant and adaptable in a rapidly changing environment.

The declining interest in STEM fields, partly due to perceptions of difficulty and external pressures, was of concern to all. Various intervention strategies could be considered to counter negative perceptions and to arrest declining interest. One such strategy is to make STEM education more engaging and involve parents and industries in creating a supportive learning environment.

This fruitful discussion marked a pivotal moment in Malaysia's strategy to enhance talent development and industry collaboration.

A tour of the campus and Centres of Excellence ensued after the discussion. Tengku Zafrul Aziz and his delegation were briefed on Centres of Excellence: Forensic and Cyber Security Research Centre (FSec), Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE), Centre for Research and Development of IoT (CREDIT), and Asia Pacific Centre of Robotics Research (APCoRE) that support in-demand technology and engineering areas such as Cybersecurity, Forensics, AR/VR, IoT, Robotics, and Innovation and Entrepreneurship.