The 21st century work force in a rapidly changing economy is required to be multi-skilled and self-sufficient. This is the time when most companies will be looking for work-ready graduates with job-specific skills over and above academic qualifications. In order to meet this criteria, institutions of higher learning will have to ensure that their graduates are work-ready when they enter the employment market. To achieve this, collaboration between industry and the institution of higher learning is very important as this has long been hailed as a way to ensure graduate preparedness for work. Such collaborations would also promote partnership and research with industry to grow our economy and deliver significant economic, social and cultural benefits to the local and global communities. At the same time, entrepreneurship is another important skill that an institution of higher learning can equip their graduates. This skill provides graduates with an opportunity for self-employment – a driver of change in seeking self-sufficiency and job creation. As a Malaysian university, graduate employability is very important to the IMU in giving its students and alumni a boost when it comes to succeeding in the world of work. A step in this direction is the student internship programme (SIP), an important component of the curriculum of various programmes (undergraduate and postgraduate) conducted by the IMU. The overall objective of this programme is to ensure that our students are work-ready and highly employable. SIP also provides students with the opportunity to relate their academic learning in their programme of study to a relevant work environment. These objectives for SIP are aligned with the University’s vision to promote the development of our students to reach their true potential in becoming competent, ethical, caring and inquiring citizens and visionary leaders. Against this background, IMU has established effective and efficient systems and structures for industry partners’ engagement. One of this is the establishment of a “Steering Committee for Industry Partnership”. Set up in May 2018, the committee provides advice on strategic directions to our University on how to better prepare our graduates for the workplace. This Committee is chaired by the University’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof Aziz Baba. Other members of this committee are IMU’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academic, Prof Peter Pook; Associate Dean, Industry Partnerships, Prof Patricia Lim; CEO and Co-founder, Naluri Hidup Sdn Bhd, Azran Osman-Rani; CEO, Thomson Hospitals Sdn Bhd (NW), Nadiah Wan; Senior Consultant, Matrix Paradigm, Woon Tien Ern and CEO, Pantai Premier Pathology, Hareef Muhammed. A fruitful inaugural meeting was held on 30 July 2018.
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