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A delegation from our Malaysia campus embarked on a significant industry visit to Weir Minerals Malaysia, marking a pivotal moment for knowledge exchange and collaboration between academia and industry. Led by esteemed representatives including Professor Igor Guz, the Executive Dean of the School of Engineering and Physical Sciences (EPS) of Heriot-Watt University (HWU), Professor Syed Hasan, the Head of School of EPS, HWUM and Associate Professor Ir. Dr. Yap Tze Chuen, the Associate Professor of EPS, HWUM, the visit aimed to foster meaningful partnerships with industry leaders.
Welcoming our delegation with open arms were key executives from Weir Minerals Malaysia, including Mr Stephen Frendt, Managing Director; Mdm Farah Ain Romaino, Head of Human Resources; Mr Sri Kanthan, Finance Director; Mr Siva Subramaniam, Head of Manufacturing; and Mr Raja Sellamuthu, Head of Technical and Product Development. Their presence underscored the company's commitment to collaboration and innovation in the mining and aggregates sectors.
Throughout the visit, both parties engaged in robust discussions, providing valuable insights into Weir Minerals Malaysia's operations and recent technological advancements. The exchange of ideas and expertise laid the foundation for potential collaborations and joint initiatives aimed at addressing industry challenges and driving innovation.
Professor Igor Guz, emphasizing the importance of such collaborations, stated, "The industry visits offer invaluable opportunities for our faculty members and students to gain practical insights into real-world challenges and innovations. It enables us to align our syllabus and research efforts with industry needs, fostering mutually beneficial partnerships."
Professor Syed Hasan, Head of our School of Engineering and Physical Sciences expressed his gratitude to Weir Mineral Malaysia and said, “We are grateful and thankful for their continuous support towards student training and opportunities for staff to engage in valuable technical discussion with their experts. Our Malaysia campus is fortunate to have such long established partnership with the company maintaining Scottish heritage in more than 60 countries across the world. Our campus is looking forward to engaging in a long-term educational partnership with Weir Mineral Malaysia to embed their work on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in our curriculum.”
Mr Stephen Frendt, Managing Director of Weir Minerals Malaysia, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration opportunities arising from the visit. Mdm Farah Ain Romaino, Head of Human Resources at Weir Minerals Malaysia, emphasized the importance of nurturing talent and expertise through collaborative efforts. She also highlighted the importance of adopting equity diversity and inclusion (EDI) in Weir Minerals, which aligns with our University's practice.
As the visit concluded, both our delegation and Weir Minerals Malaysia leadership expressed optimism about the potential for future collaborations and knowledge exchange initiatives. The event served as a testament to the power of collaboration between academia and industry in driving innovation, fostering talent development, and shaping the future of engineering and physical sciences.