University-industry collaboration

The education system in Malaysia has made many changes in historical records: to suit with stakeholders’ demands, being affected by changes in the economic and social landscape, technology and communication advancements as well as industry requirements for people. The education system during the pre-independence was mostly run by scholars of Islam based on Islamic education that largely covered individual faith to Allah and aimed at developing highly moral individuals. Then, systematic education was executed during the colonial period where the education was intended to eliminate illiteracy. Subsequently, the post-independence period recorded more changes in the system aimed to reunite the multi-ethnicity of people. With competitive and broader challenges nowadays, the Malaysia education system has been transformed to ensure the produced talents are capable of bringing the nation to greater heights. Teaching and learning are not only limited in a classroom, but students are exposed to a real working environment through a so-called co-op education. This chapter shares the journey of Malaysia in moulding its students to be champions and survivors in a complex and uncertain world.