USM PENANG, 3 January 2024 – Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) and Jinko Solar Technology Sdn. Bhd. have entered into a partnership and signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in bringing together efforts to develop talents in the field of renewable energy.

Affirmation of the MoU would put into focus the empowering of USM students to become highly-skilled talents who could fulfil demands of the industry via the Industry-Infused Programme (IIP) mechanism.

USM Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dato’ Seri Ir. Dr. Abdul Rahman Mohamed said, the collaboration between USM and JINKO Solar would offer an advantage to USM students in the form of acquiring a more realistic perspective of the industry in the respective field through the involvement in practical training (or internship), final-year project (FYP) with scholarship or financial support.

“I hope that the Industry-Infused Programme supervised by the USM School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering would be able to produce various collaborative projects that would bring benefit to both parties, as well as to the country overall,” he said at the MoU signing ceremony between the two parties at the USM Chancellory Conference Room (CCR) today.

At the ceremony, Abdul Rahman also pointed out on the use of photovoltaic (PV) solar cells at the university campuses as a move to harness and utilise the renewable energy, which is in line with the focus of USM as a leading sustainability-led University.

“At the same time, it also aligns with the New Industrial Master Plan Malaysia 2030 (NIMP 2030), to decarbonise the manufacturing sector in order to achieve net zero carbon emissions in the country by 2050,” added Abdul Rahman.

He also hoped that the collaboration between USM and Jinko Solar would integrate values relating to sustainability in aspects of research and education through programmes which are relevant to the industry.

Also at the ceremony, Deputy General Manager, Jinko Solar Technology Sdn. Bhd., Lee Swee Lim said that on their part, they will always be committed to USM to form a strategic partnership, to develop and to support research programmes that would be mutually beneficial.

“The collaboration between USM-Jinko Solar would surely bring a positive impact in the development of research regarding renewable energy, simultaneously producing local talents who would become experts in the relevant fields, and who would be able to raise the capacity of the sector to desired levels,” he said further.

He also hoped that the expertise of both parties would result in the fruition of outcomes relevant to both the industry and the higher education sectors in the country.

Founded in China, Jinko Solar is one of the largest and most innovative solar technology companies in the world, and with a listing at the New York Stock Exchange.

Also present at the ceremony were the Director of USM Engineering Campus, Professor Datin Dr. Azlina Harun@Kamarudin; Assistant Manager, Human Resource, Jinko Solar Technology Sdn. Bhd., Huang Dandan; Dean, USM School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Professor Ir. Ts. Dr. Shahrel Azmin Sundi @ Suandi; EXCOs from the USM School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering and key officials from Jinko Solar Technology Sdn. Bhd.

Translation: Mazlan Hanafi Basharudin/Photo: Mohd Fairus Md Isa