PENANG, 22 January 2016 – The cooperation between Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) and a high-technology construction company with extensive experience, PU Profile Sdn. Bhd (PU) was aimed at providing great benefits to the students of USM.

The Vice-Chancellor of USM, Professor Dato’ Dr. Omar Osman said, the cooperation has three main focus, namely to look at the strength of PU in industrial buildings system (IBS), advanced technologies in construction and also in building design which could be benefitted by the students.

He said, IBS is an essential advantage for construction and development companies to compete in the local scene and the collaboration with PU would further enhance the skills of the students, especially those from the USM School of Housing, Building and Planning (HBP).

“We are aiming for PU to work together with USM in exploring the three important aspects. The collaboration would mainly focus on the development of the construction industry through the use of IBS, which has seen an increase in usage by the construction industry.”

“There will also be a focus on two other areas, firstly on the advanced aspects in building technology and secondly in construction design, and with the combination of the three said aspects together with the concept of green technology, they would provide great benefits as a whole,” he said.

He stated this to the media after the signing of Collaboration Agreement (CA) with PU Profile Sdn. Bhd. Signing on behalf of PU was the CEO who is also the Director, Mckinley Soon.

Also present was the Dean of HBP, Professor Dr. Aldrin Abdullah and the Deputy President, Contract Management of PU, Datin Hanita Hamzah.

Omar added that, PU has also stated its intention to work together in offering places to the students for their industrial training practice, as well as in providing prospect of job recruitments to the students with potential.

“PU has also pledged in the form of collaborations valued at RM100,000 for the students and the academic staff through the mobility and internship programmes, by providing them with exposure to important aspects of project management and development process.

“With the expertise of PU Profile and the talents of the academicians at USM, there will be a synergy offered to the students of USM to enhance their own talents and skills in their chosen fields,” he said.

Meanwhile Mckinley said, they are committed in the collaboration with USM and would like to create an impact in the academic world with the industrial expertise available at PU.

He added, PU has done extensive research and explored opportunities and advanced technology in building designs in various countries including Europe, and such experiences need to be suitably-adapted for the benefit of the industry in this country.

“We see the need in the sharing of available expertise with the academics. We have also accepted many students undergoing their industrial training and the performance of the students from USM were truly incomparable to the others.”

“They have strong determination and great interest to learn something new and PU is always ready to provide full cooperation to ensure the success of this strategic collaboration,” he said.

Through this collaboration also, PU has agreed to provide support for the construction of a building at USM, to be built using the latest in green technology, and to function as a gallery for the innovations and products created by the students of USM.

Translation: Mazlan Hanafi Basharudin

Teks: Marziana Mohamed Alias / Foto: Zamani Abdul Rahim