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Representing UTM at the ceremony was Dean of the Faculty of Computing, Prof. Dr Azlan Mohd Zain, while The Access Group Malaysia was represented by its Managing Director, Lim Chee Gay. Representatives from both organisations attended the event, reflecting their shared commitment to supporting Malaysia’s digital talent ecosystem.
It will connect academia and industry to support knowledge and technology transfer, improve graduate employability and give students greater exposure to real-world industry practice.
Prof. Dr. Azlan commented: “This collaboration with Access represents our shared vision of nurturing future talent and contributing to Malaysia’s digital transformation agenda.”
Lim Chee Gay, Managing Director, Access GOC KL, added: “Through our Graduate Academy, we have seen what happens when graduates work with real products and teams from day one. This partnership with UTM builds on that and by bringing industry expertise into the classroom, we can help more students develop the skills, mindset and confidence to thrive in technology careers. Combining UTM’s academic excellence with the way we develop talent at Access will help us build a pipeline of workplace-ready digital professionals and support the growth of Malaysia’s digital economy.”
Building on the Graduate Academy
The partnership builds on The Access Group’s Graduate Academy in Kuala Lumpur, the Group’s flagship early careers initiative, which is designed to fast-track graduates into impactful roles across engineering and technology teams.
Partnership highlights
The collaboration includes the proposed appointment of Lim Chee Gay as an Adjunct Professor at UTM. The appointment is expected to give students and faculty direct access to industry expertise, leadership insights and real-world perspectives, and to encourage knowledge exchange and joint initiatives.
Access and UTM are also exploring a scholarship programme to support deserving B40 students studying at UTM. The initiative reflects both organisations’ commitment to educational inclusivity and to widening access to quality higher education, regardless of socioeconomic background.
The partnership aligns closely with UTM ASCEND 2030, particularly in advancing talent excellence, strengthening industry engagement and enhancing graduate employability. It also supports Malaysia’s ambition to become a leading digital economy in the region.
The MoU marks the start of a long-term partnership, with future collaboration planned across talent development, industry-driven learning, research, innovation and community empowerment.