UNIVERSITI Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) has signed a memorandum of agreement (MoA) with McDonald’s Malaysia to enable selected modules of the fast-food chain’s internal training programmes to be recognised as transferable credits for the former’s Master of Business Administration (MBA) programme at the Azman Hashim International Business School (AHIBS).
The MoA was inked by UTM vice-chancellor Professor Datuk Dr Wahid Omar and McDonald’s Malaysia managing director and local operating partner, Azmir Jaafar, in Putrajaya recently.
Wahid said the collaboration featured a new education model in redefining academia-industry partnership that adapted to the changing landscape in higher education.
“At UTM, we emphasise strong industry linkages and we actively push for collaborative programmes. In this collaboration, UTM experts will provide advice to enhance McDonald’s Malaysia’s in-house programmes in line with our established MBA programme. This is a professional input to produce a holistic approach in talent development,” said Wahid.
Azmir said this partnership was the first of its kind for McDonald’s worldwide.
“We are thrilled to partner with UTM in its MBA programme. This underscores the quality of McDonald’s Malaysia training programmes in providing our people with career advancement opportunities.
“At McDonald’s Malaysia, we offer an enriching environment for our employees to grow. We are proud to say that our 14,000 strong workforce is 100 per cent Malaysian.
“This collaboration with UTM will enable our people to pursue an MBA, which will help them in their personal and professional growth trajectories,” said Azmir.
The linkage was made possible due to UTM’s recognition of the Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning, or APEL, as an alternative entry requirement in its master’s programmes. Azmir said UTM’s APEL admission system acknowledged the prior experience gained by McDonald’s employees.
“Based on the outcome of the module mapping, our managers will be eligible for this credit-transfer MBA programme upon commencement in February 2020.”
Education Ministry Higher Education Department deputy director-general Professor Dr Mohd Cairul Iqbal Mohd Amin, who witnessed the signing, said Malaysia was always on the lookout for disruptive changes to enhance the country’s education model.
“A seamless integration between conceptual knowledge and practical skills is needed. To achieve this, universities and the industry must collaborate to produce a skilled and relevant workforce.
“It’s a pleasure to learn that UTM and McDonald’s Malaysia are joining forces in this talent management collaboration.”
Present were AHIBS dean Professor Dr Nur Naha Abu Mansor and McDonald’s Malaysia’s legal and franchising director Hilmy Sulaiman.