KUALA LUMPUR: Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP) has partnered Virtalis Ltd and Thames Technology Sdn Bhd to set up a centre of excellence for virtual reality.
The virtual reality centre aims to develop talent and certified professionals among UTP students.
To be located at UTP, the centre will also be used to help enhance the design, training and maintenance procedure in the engineering and oil and gas industries.
The partnership is also expected to enhance university-industry partnership in conducting cutting-edge research to meet market demand and support local industries.
UTP vice-chancellor Datuk Dr Abdul Rahim Hashim said all parties will work jointly to enhance the virtual reality technology and support the research and development (R&D) activities at UTP.
He said through UTP’s partnership with Virtalis and Thames Technology, there would be many R&D opportunities for UTP to be involved in, especially in the areas where they can directly contribute to the advancement of virtual reality.
“This collaboration is expected to benefit our students and provide them with vast hands-on experience. This will equip them with knowledge and skills before they venture into the working world,” Abdul Rahim said after the signing ceremony yesterday.
The ceremony, witnessed by Deputy Education and Higher Learning Minister II P. Kamala-nathan, was signed by Abdul Rahim on behalf of UTP, while Virtalis was represented by managing director David Cockburn-Price and Thames Technology by its managing director Mohd Kamarul Hisham Hashim.