VINCI Construction signs Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with University of Malaya (UM)

Collaboration to build more high skilled talent in Greater Kuala Lumpur

KUALA LUMPUR, 20th JANUARY 2016 – The University of Malaya (UM), Malaysia’s No.1 ranked higher education institution and VINCI Construction, a leading design and build construction company and a major global player in the construction sector, entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly work on a collaborative project to encourage and promote cooperation in research and development in the field of Capacity Building and Local Talent Development. This MoU is VINCI Construction’s first collaboration with a Malaysian University.

The MoU signing ceremony was held today at the Court Room, UM. This partnership was led by University of Malaya’s Centre for Innovative Construction Technology (CICT), Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and the collaboration between UM and VINCI Construction was facilitated by InvestKL.

The documents were signed by Prof. Dato’ Dr. Mohd Amin Jalaludin on behalf of UM and Mr. Michel Oliveres, Director at VINCI Construction, witnessed by the CEO of InvestKL, Datuk Zainal Amanshah.

The project spanning 3 years will focus on increased collaboration between the two parties, to facilitate mutual sharing of best practices and expertise in the area of construction and engineering. These include final year projects for undergraduates, internship and employment opportunities, joint research and development activities, participation in seminars and academic sessions, worksite visits and other areas agreed by both parties.

As VINCI Construction ranks among the world’s top design and build construction companies, the valuable exchange of professional and best practices with UM will provide Malaysian talents an enhanced educational experience to build capabilities through transfer of knowledge and technology, insights, experience and skills and provide exposure to global markets and work opportunities. In addition, this strategic collaboration between private and local will continue to support Malaysia’s goal towards becoming a knowledge economy with a high income population by 2020.

Prof. Dato’ Dr. Mohd Amin Bin Jalaludin, Vice-Chancellor of UM said:
“We firmly believe in strategic partnerships that can create an ecosystem that supports excellence and a performance-driven culture. This will ensure that our university and its graduates will not only be globally competitive but will be able to meet our nation’s aspirations to provide leadership in this region and beyond. This MoU with VINCI Construction will contribute to building a sustainable and stable platform from which we can continue to “soar upwards” as aptly put by the Ministry of Higher Education and serves to strengthen several thrusts of the Malaysian Higher Education Blueprint including ensuring talent excellence, creating an innovation ecosystem and building the university’s global prominence”

Mr. Michel Oliveres, Director of VINCI Construction Grands Projets Malaysia said:
“At VINCI Construction, we believe our success in Asia goes through the integration into the local economic and social life. With this in mind, we undertake to participate and build regional workforce by bringing onboard local talents. We nurture them by instilling values that encompass autonomy and innovation through transfer of knowledge, experience and core-trainings. As a local stakeholder, VINCI Construction strives to develop sustainable and competitive teams of talents for the purpose of building iconic and lifelong public infrastructures in an environmentally and socially responsible manner”

Datuk Zainal Amanshah, CEO of InvestKL commented: “It is our mandate from the outset to attract and facilitate large global multinationals into Greater Kuala Lumpur and VINCI Construction is one of our many success stories in 2015. InvestKL is always focused on bridging international industry leaders with our local institutions, to cultivate innovation, exposing talent to global best practices and spurring economic growth. University of Malaya and VINCI Construction both share a passion for innovation excellence, and we hope that our young minds and local talent will seize the opportunity and gain invaluable exposure. We are pleased to assist in the facilitation of this partnership”

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Contact
For more information please contact:
University of Malaya
Centre for Innovation and Commercialization
Level 5, Research Management & Innovation Complex
University of Malaya
50603, Kuala Lumpur
[email protected]
Office: (603) 7967 7351 [Ext] 2364
Fax: (603) 7967 6291

About UM
www.um.edu.my
The University of Malaya (UM) is the foremost and premier Research University (RU) in Malaysia. It is a multidisciplinary RU that has more than 27,000 students and 1700 academic staff with 17 faculties and research centres covering the whole spectrum of learning from the Arts, Sciences and Humanities. The university's beginning at the beautiful 750-acres campus in the heart of Kuala Lumpur dates back to 1957 and thus far has a huge alumni of over 100,000, among them renowned and illustrious personalities and leaders in various fields.

About VINCI Construction in Southeast Asia
VINCI Construction is present in Southeast Asia for many decades via the set of following companies: VINCI Construction Grands Projets (design and build of complex infrastructures and functional buildings), Bachy Soletanche (geotechnical, foundations), Soldata (instrumentation and monitoring), Menard (soil consolidation, reinforcement and compaction), Freyssinet (post-tensioning, bridge bearings), Reinforced Earth (retaining wall systems, sound walls and precast arches), Entrepose (LNG tanks, onshore and offshore pipelines), and Structures (structural engineering).

About CICT
See attached content.

About InvestKL
www.investkl.gov.my
InvestKL is a government entity under the purview of the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI), Ministry of Federal Territories and PEMANDU, the Performance Management and Delivery Unit under the Prime Minister’s Department. InvestKL works with other Government Ministries, entities and agencies to help corporations identify business opportunities while strengthening their competitiveness regionally and globally. Overseen by the Prime Minister’s Office, reporting to two ministers and headed by CEO Datuk Zainal Amanshah, InvestKL focuses on attracting large global multinationals such as Fortune 500 and Forbes 2000 companies to set up their regional business, innovation and talent hubs in Greater Kuala Lumpur and strategically grow their business in Asia. ___________________________________________________________________________
Issued by: International and Corporate Relations Office (ICR) Level L, Chancellery Building University of Malaya 50603 Kuala Lumpur Tel: 03-79673273 Fax: 03-79560027 Email: [email protected]