USM PENANG, 23 February 2023 – Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) via the School of Health Sciences (PPSK) today has entered into a strategic partnership with Nicko Jeep Manufacture Sdn. Bhd. with the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA).

Signing on behalf of USM was the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dato’ Ir. Dr. Abdul Rahman Mohamed, and on behalf of Nicko Jeep Manufacture was its Managing Director, Datuk Kenny Low Teck Fatt, and witnessed by Dr. Ayu Suzailiana Muhamad, representing the Dean of PPSK and Nicko Jeep Head of Sales and Marketing, Lim Chong Keat.

The aim of signing the MoA is to seek mutual collaboration with an industry partner such as Nicko Jeep Manufacture to facilitate opportunities for PPSK students and research collaboration with the school.

Both parties are looking forward to embark on jointly-undertaken collaborative research and grant applications; joint publication of the results of the collaborative research; knowledge-sharing through workshops, training programmes and seminars; and jointly developing modules and books.

According to Abdul Rahman, as a result of this MoA, USM students will be able to engage with the private sector for their industrial training practice, and learn hands-on and acquire intrapersonal skills in a private setting, while in terms of academics, this will enable the academicians to conduct more collaborative research that will benefit both parties.

“I believe that we can cultivate not only a spirit of giving back to the community, but also to realise the vision of USM in developing a holistically intellectual future,” he said.

Meanwhile, Kenny Low said that Nicko Jeep is honoured to have a scientific collaboration with USM, which is one of the world’s leading research universities, particularly in the promotion of Health Science.

“In this collaboration, we are creating synergistic benefits for both parties by exploring opportunities to develop and support educational programmes and research activities, among others.

“Therefore, we take this opportunity to thank the research team and USM for the forthcoming two years research with Himalaya Sports Candy,” said Kenny Low.

Ayu Suzailiana in her speech said that PPSK is a teaching and research-oriented school, whereby the school is committed in producing graduates who are able to pursue their own goals and directions, while also contributing to the development of an industrialised and civilized nation.

“To achieve this goal, the school provides a diverse and comprehensive interdisciplinary wellness-based programmes for educational, scientific and human capital development,” said Ayu.

The research collaboration between USM and Nicko Jeep Manufacture was the result of a proposal forwarded by Associate Professor Dr. Garry Kuan Pei Ern entitled 'The Effect of Himalaya Salt Candy on Psychophysiological Parameters Among Medical Students and Active Individuals'.

Ayu hoped that the collaboration is a good start for both parties and good publications will be generated as one of the research outputs from this project.

Also present were Nicko Jeep Manufacture Sales and Marketing Director, Low Teck Long; PPSK Lecturer and Principal Researcher, Associate Professor Dr. Garry Kuan Pei Ern; and principal officers of Nicko Jeep Manufacture and USM.

Text: Nur Farrah Ezlin Mohd Suhaimi/Photo: Mohd Fairus Md Isa