PUTRAJAYA, 27 May 2025 – Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) continues to strengthen its position as a leader in marine science and aquatic resource sustainability by forging strategic collaborations with industry leaders through the CEO@Faculty Programme, a high-impact sharing platform initiated by the Ministry of Higher Education (MoHE) to empower the nation’s higher education through industry participation.

This commitment was demonstrated by UMT through the High Tea with UMT Management and CEO@Faculty Members event, held at the Everly Hotel, Putrajaya. The event aimed to promote graduate employability, curriculum enhancement, and strategic research collaboration in addressing global challenges such as climate change, economic disruptions, and technological advancement.

Chairman of the UMT Board of Directors, Professor Dr Mohamad Salmi Mohd Sohod, in his speech emphasised that the CEO@Faculty Programme not only enriches students’ learning experience but also offers industry players fresh insights and access to high-quality young talent.

“The CEO@Faculty Programme is a strategic platform that brings together industry leaders to share their expertise and experiences, thereby enriching students’ learning journeys and paving the way for research collaborations aligned with current needs.

“Through this programme, future talents do not just learn about the real world, they learn within the actual working environment,” he said.

UMT is actively implementing a range of initiatives, including industry-based curriculum integration, micro-credential implementation, work-based learning, and the establishment of an innovation ecosystem through the Innovation and Commercialisation Centre (ICC) and the Centre for Entrepreneurship and Graduate Employability (UMT-GEM).

The university is also actively producing innovative products based on its expertise in marine biotechnology and sustainable fisheries.

“Through ICC and UMT-GEM, UMT has successfully translated research ideas into products and services that deliver social and economic impact via the development of innovation ecosystems and start-ups, thereby nurturing entrepreneurial talent among students and researchers,” he added.

Emphasis is also placed on collaborations in core research areas such as marine biotechnology and renewable energy, in line with national needs and the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The CEO@Faculty Programme is regarded as a vital platform in aligning the country’s higher education landscape to face the challenges of the Fifth Industrial Revolution, by engaging corporate CEOs as strategic partners to mentor, shape, and drive transformation within the national education ecosystem.

The high tea event brought together 15 CEOs appointed by the Ministry of Higher Education and assigned to UMT to support the principles of inclusivity, innovation, and collaboration in driving national development.

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Corporate Communications Office

Universiti Malaysia Terengganu