Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL) and Huawei Malaysia have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on academic and research initiatives focused on smart city technology and urban disaster prevention, particularly flood mitigation. This partnership promises advancements in these critical areas while fostering innovation and practical training for future generations.
A central pillar of the collaboration is the establishment of a Huawei Intelligent Operation Center (IOC) at UniKL British Malaysian Institute (UniKL BMI). This centre will serve a dual purpose: providing valuable research and development (R&D) opportunities and empowering UniKL to offer authorized short-course training programs. Students and the public will benefit from gaining practical experience with cutting-edge smart city technologies.
The MoU also paves the way for knowledge exchange between Huawei Malaysia and UniKL on flood monitoring and control. This collaboration in research and information sharing holds promise for developing effective solutions to combat this recurring challenge in Malaysia.
The signing ceremony, held at Huawei’s headquarters in Shenzhen, China, was witnessed by Malaysia’s Deputy Prime Minister, Dato’ Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Bin Hamidi. Signing on behalf of their respective organizations were Mr Simon Sun, Chief Executive Officer of Huawei Malaysia, and Associate Professor Ir Dr Azman Senin, President and Chief Executive Officer of UniKL.
Expressing his enthusiasm for the partnership, Dr Azman Senin stated, “This MoU underscores UniKL’s unwavering commitment to providing our students with access to the best learning opportunities and resources. We anticipate a productive collaboration with Huawei Malaysia that will benefit not only our students and researchers but also the wider community.”
Mr Simon Sun, CEO of Huawei Malaysia, elaborated on the significance of the IOC: “The Huawei IOC utilizes vast amounts of industry-specific data to generate predictive models, aiding in efficient resource allocation during critical situations like floods. This ultimately leads to better city management and paves the way for a connected, intelligent future for smart cities. The UniKL BMI-based IOC will serve as a powerful educational and R&D tool, equipping students and researchers for the challenges and opportunities of tomorrow.”
This partnership between UniKL and Huawei Malaysia signifies a significant step forward. By combining academic expertise with industry knowledge, they aim to tackle real-world challenges, nurture the next generation of innovators, and contribute to building smarter and more resilient Malaysian cities.