UNITAR & PYDC SIGN MOU TO ESTABLISH PARTNERSHIP

PETALING JAYA, 3 November 2021 – UNITAR International University together with Penang Youth Development Corporation (PYDC) has come together to synergize a collective effort in building the youth of today by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two parties. The Parties were desirous of entering into this MoU to declare their mutual intentions to establish collaboration and explore opportunities to develop, support and enrich the research, educational and training programs in the fields that will be beneficial to both Parties. Those presented during the Signing of Memorandum of Understanding were:

1. YBhg. Professor Emeritus Tan Sri. Dato Sri’ Ir Dr. Sahol Hamid Abu Bakar, Vice Chancellor of UNITAR University
2. YB Soon Lip Chee, EXCO for Youth and Sports
3. Dr Gwee Sai Ling, General Manager of Penang Youth Development Corporation
4. Mr. Badrie bin Abdullah, Director, Partnership & Collaboration
5. Ms. Stella Chua Ching Yee, Head of Operations and Director
6. Mr. Marc Kevin Natusch, Senior Executive, Corporate Communication
7. Mr. Zaim Halim, Senior Executive, Business Development

This MoU sets out the general framework for the establishment of an academic link and cooperation between the Parties and to facilitate the detailed discussions on the scope of the academic link and cooperation. Both parties will endeavour to take necessary steps to promote, develop and establish the research, education, training and development programs in various fields which are, community engagement, outreach, volunteerism, education, youth employment, knowledge and skills transfer, student exchange, Penang Youth Programmes, and other related advice, talk, or seminar to students in UNITAR (knowledge transfer), and ‘Train & Place’ employability and other nation-building initiatives. Not in Employment, Education or Training (NEET) Program & AWS re/Start Program are those initiatives both parties will be working on together.

During the signing of MoU, Penang State EXCO for Youth and Sports, Soon Lip Chee declared that “the Penang state government through PYDC is committed to assisting our young people to achieve the collective vision of shaping the state of Penang and now with other parts of Malaysia to bring this to the next level, as a developed and progressive society.”

He added on by mentioning that, “Education is a key topic affecting young peoples’ lives. There is no end to education as the journey to learn and accumulate knowledge is borderless. It is not about attending school, passing examinations, with that your education is completed.” Education is by default the key to success in ones life.

Alongside with that, General Manager of Penang Youth Development Corporation, Gwee Sai Ling expressed her appreciation to UNITAR for hosting the MoU Signing and said “With this partnership, I hope that we can collaborate to organise more programmes that would benefit our youth. Indeed, the responsibly that falls on our shoulder is big, but this will never stop us to strive for a better future for our youth.”

At the signing ceremony, UNITAR’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Emeritus Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Ir. Dr. Sahol Hamid bin Abu Bakar stated, “The main objectives of the Collaboration between PYDC and UNITAR is to increase job marketability among youth. In addition, this cooperation can help those who lost their source of income during Covid-19 Pandemic in Malaysia. We’re also aiming to provide Upskilling opportunities to youth, where we can collaborate to provide a medium and space for youths to upskill themselves and boost employability. We are excited to introduce the Penang Youth Programmes and other related talks and seminars to students in UNITAR, as part of the knowledge transfer component of the collaboration.”