- Purdue University signed three strategic partnerships with top Malaysian universities to advance semiconductor technology, AI, and data science education.
- Collaborations include dual master’s programs, ABET-accredited AI micro-credentials, professional reskilling, and industry-aligned training initiatives.
- Partnership with Universiti Sains Malaysia and Intel will establish an advanced semiconductor research lab, strengthening Malaysia’s technology ecosystem.
Purdue University has signed three Strategic Partnerships with top Malaysian universities in a major move towards enhancing global partnerships for semiconductor technology and artificial intelligence educational programs. These agreements, signed in November, are aimed at helping Malaysia achieve a technology-ready workforce, along with furthering Purdue University’s global presence in leading edge innovation-driven fields.
The partnership agreements were made during a high-level delegation trip to Malaysia headed by Dimitrios Peroulis, Purdue’s senior vice president for partnerships and online, and Victory Soe, senior director of global online partnerships and strategic initiatives. The delegation trip indicated Purdue’s continued commitment to Southeast Asia and specifically those regions where there is an element of vital skills and capabilities for economic development and advancement. According to Dimitrios, the partnership will align Purdue’s core strength with the national agenda of Malaysia in artificial intelligence, data science, and semiconductor manufacturing.
Among the significant collaborations is with Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR), through which Purdue will be working on a joint delivery for a dual master’s programme in artificial intelligence and data science. Through this same partnership, Purdue University’s micro-credentials for artificial intelligence, accredited by ABET, will also be integrated into the undergraduate programmes in UTAR, thereby enabling students to equip themselves with industry-relevant skills right from their early days of pursuing their undergraduate degrees, thus catering to their employability requirements.
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The second memorandum of understanding was with Universiti Teknologi Petronas, which centered around micro-credentials and professional upgrading in semiconductor manufacturing, data science, and engineering-related areas. The venture aims to facilitate lifelong learning and Human Development as professionals are offered the opportunity to reskill using flexible industry-related programs offered with the Purdue academics’ strength.
The third partnership is between Purdue University and Universiti Sains Malaysia, and has a strong emphasis on research and innovation. This partnership was formalized at a gathering hosted by the Malaysia Ministry of Higher Education, and sees Purdue, USM, and the semiconductor company Intel come together as part of joint research and training programs.
This initiative has one major benefit: the establishment of an advanced semiconductor research laboratory, which would be an addition to Malaysia’s semiconductor plan. These collaborations, according to Victory Soe, demonstrate the reach of the kinds of virtual collaborations that Purdue is involved in by allowing its reach to go beyond its campus. By engaging in collaboration and partnerships with Malaysian institutions of higher learning, Purdue is contributing to the development of critical infrastructure within Southeast Asia while also providing increased access to its globally respected engineering and technological programs.
