Creating mutual benefit through focused university collaboration

The academic and corporate worlds share many of the same goals – and a clear structure can enhance the success of their cooperation. Through an agreement signed in 2018, BASF PETRONAS Chemicals and Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP) are now collaborating in the areas of both knowledge-sharing and talent development. 

BASF Petronas Chemicals is a Malaysia-based joint venture between BASF and Petroliam Nasional Berhad (PETRONAS), Malaysia’s fully integrated oil and gas multinational. UMP was established by the Government of Malaysia in 2002 and was set up as a competency-based technical university specializing in the fields of engineering and technology.

High-impact, sustainable programs – involving both industry partners and the community – are at the center of the collaboration, which is formalized in a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The seven areas emphasized in the MoU are: talent sourcing (for BASF PETRONAS Chemicals’ GROW graduate trainee program and for its permanent employment schemes), initiatives on academic development, an industry excellence award, industrial placement training for staff and students, leadership and professional development schemes, sharing of expertise in research and facilities, and projects in corporate social responsibility and other sustainability-related areas.

“The opportunity derived from this collaboration with BASF Petronas Chemicals will enable the university to benefit from its expertise in technical areas, process optimization and human resource development,” said Professor Dato’ Sri Dr. Daing nasir, Vice Chancellor at UMP. “This MoU will also enable us to work together in research and development, sharing of facilities, data, knowledge and skills, and in other areas of mutual interest.”

The partnership falls in line with the university’s long-term aspirations of a strengthened engagement with the industry, specifically highlighted in its Strategic Plan for 2016-2020, “Commutising Technology”. The collaboration strengthens innovation by bringing together the inherent capacities of a well-established academic institution with that of a leading chemical company. 

Sven Crone, Managing Director, BASF PETRONAS Chemicals, said, “This mutually-beneficial partnership will catalyze more active, win-win collaboration programs between BASF Petronas Chemicals and UMP.”

The two institutions also support future leaders through targeted grants. The BASF PETRONAS Chemicals Excellence award of RM 10,000 will be given at the convocation ceremony to a student selected for outstanding achievement.