Proton group managing director Datuk Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohamed Tahir said yesterday the advanced diploma in automotive design and manufacturing engineering programme would start the first semester at the polytechnic, followed by two semesters at the carmaker’s plants in Tanjung Malim and Shah Alam.
He said the “learning while working” programme involved teaching staff and lecturers from the polytechnic and Proton with the main objective of providing students a comprehensive exposure to the vehicle manufacturing industry.
Syed Zainal said 50% of the study process would focus on design skills with the balance involving knowledge and skills in automotive manufacturing.
“Such exposure is not only more effective in producing credible graduates and at the same time work experience, but more importantly, having the relevant knowledge and hands-on experience in meeting the demands and needs of the industry,” he told reporters after signing the MoU here.
The ministry was represented by its secretary-general Tan Sri Dr Zulkefli A Hassan.
Syed Zainal
Syed Zainal said Proton would allocate 20 management personnel to spend certain hours per week to train the students. Proton has allocated about RM250,000 this year for the first batch of 30 students.
“Over time, this amount is expected to grow as at peak we are looking at 60 students for the two semesters,” he said, adding that Proton could expect a more-than-double return in investment from the programme.
Zulkefli said the MoU constituted a “comprehensive collaboration” on the sustainability of the national automotive industry, in line with the prime minister’s aspiration to realise the country’s New Economic Model goals.
He said the intake would be held twice a year and that there would be up to 30 students at the most per semester.
Written by Yong Min Wei
This article appeared in The Edge Financial Daily, July 7, 2010.
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