USM, PENANG, 7 December 2016 - President of Toray Industries Inc., Dato' Akihiro Nikkaku today received his Honorary Doctor of Engineering degree from the Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) Pro-Chancellor, Tan Sri Datuk Mustafa Mansur in a simple yet meaningful ceremony held here.

According to Akihiro, this conferment symbolised the close cooperation between USM and Toray in ensuring the future growth of both parties, and in order to achieve more long- lasting collaborations, consistent efforts would be needed.

"For such things to be successful, we need to go back to basics and aim to achieve what has been targeted and do not give up; and the university need to adapt to the global challenges nowadays in producing talented human resources," he said.

Adding further, Akihiro said that the focus should not only be on the technology and analytical fields, but society also needs to nurture mankind to grow and become great communities.

Akihiro also thanked USM for the commitment shared by both parties, for the past two decades of collaboration in the sharing of knowledge and ideas.

Meanwhile, the USM Vice-Chancellor, Professor Datuk Dr. Asma congratulated Akihiro for his conferment and hoped that USM and Toray will further strengthen the relationship, based on the concept of academia-industry linkage.

Asma also forwarded a request from Toray to provide assistance to USM academicians in the form of sabbatical training at Toray, to ensure they remain relevant in the R&D industry.

"I would also like to extend the opportunity for Toray to give lectures and sharing sessions to USM communities, such as the CEO Faculty Programme, to provide more insights on the current developments in the industry," she said.

She emphasised on the offering of flexible education and also the 2u2i initiative, where students will spend 2 years studying in the university and 2 years in the industry.

"Knowledge development can be fully optimised by using the Quadruple Helix concept which consists of the industry, government, academicians and the community, to work together and also to learn from the industry, thus creating a new thinking on technology," she said.

Also present at the ceremony were the Consul-General of Japan in Penang, HE Mr. Kiyoshi Itoi; the USM Deputy Vice-Chancellors; USM Registrar; principal officers of USM and Toray as well as some Japanese students studying in USM.

Text: Hafiz Meah Ghouse Meah / Photo: Mohd Fairus Md. Isa