PENANG, 8 Mar. – Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) will work in partnership with the Malaysian Productivity Corporation (MPC) to enhance productivity, innovation and competitiveness through the implementation of the Case Study Writing Programme and the effective training programme.
To ink the partnership, USM and MPC signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with USM being represented by Acting Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Lim Koon Ong and the Deputy Director General II of MPC, Abdul Latif Abu Seman here yesterday.
Prof. Lim Koon Ong said that specifically, the collaboration will be between the USM Graduate School of Business (GSB) and MPC, Northern region. The collaboration involves journal writing and improving on the case studies currently available in the country.
He said that the two-year partnership also involves the mutual exchange of expertise between the staff of GSB and MPC, especially those specializing in productivity, creativity and innovation.
“Learning is not limited to the confines of the classroom and by using case studies, students can understand the realities of the world. In this context, the case studies are related to the world of business. In view of this USM will give its full commitment to MPC, especially in increasing the number of local case studies for documentation and publication in journals,” he said.
He added that GSB hopes to expand its partnership with MPC into other areas related to productivity and innovation through publications and which would contribute to the improved quality of local business graduates.
Prof. Lim said that USM and MPC each have their own expertise but there must be a united effort to improve national productivity through research, training and the development of a delivery system.
Meanwhile, Abdul Latif said that MPC is currently carrying out efforts to create awareness among the industry and the community of issues such as innovation, creativity, productivity, quality and competitiveness, in line with the new directions of MPC.
These efforts, he said, need commitment and a strong networking resulting from smart partnerships with institutions of higher learning.
”We hope that through this partnership, both parties will provide added value to their respective organizations, especially in ensuring the success of projects aimed at improving productivity, creativity an innovation,” he explained.
He stressed that the MoU with USM is the first to be signed in the Northern region for the year 2010. It is aimed at consolidating the national economy and to enhance knowledge on industrial innovation through programmes designed for this purpose.
Some of the programmes planned under the MoU include joint training in the field of management and leadership, research, publication of books and journals and exchange of expertise which will benefit both parties.
Picture: Prof. Lim Koon Ong (left) with Abdul Latif Abu Seman during the MoU signing ceremony in USM today.
Photo: Mohd. Fairus Md. Isa
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