Latest news with #ArhamAbdullah
Barnama
16-07-2025
- Business
- Barnama
UMK Signs MoUs To Boost National Rare Earth Industry
KOTA BHARU, July 16 (Bernama) -- Universiti Malaysia Kelantan (UMK) today signed two memoranda of understanding (MoUs) to strengthen the integrated, strategic and high-impact development of the country's rare earth elements (REE) industry. Its vice-chancellor Prof Dr Arham Abdullah said the first MoU involves a Triple Helix synergy-based collaboration between UMK, the Malaysian Industry-Government Group for High Technology (MIGHT), and Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA). He said REE is now recognised as one of Malaysia's five strategic minerals and plays a key role in modern technologies, including renewable energy, electronics, defence and healthcare. 'In Malaysia, particularly in Kelantan, there are significant deposits of non-radioactive rare earth elements (NR-REE). However, geological features such as ion-adsorption clay make the extraction process more challenging and require a sustainable, innovative and environmentally friendly approach. 'This collaboration underlines that the development of the REE industry cannot be done in isolation. Its success depends on strong synergy among research institutions, government agencies and industry players to ensure the technologies developed are sustainable, relevant and scalable at the national level,' he said in a statement. He added that UMK also has a group of young, proactive and competent researchers capable of developing REE solutions across the value chain, which further enhances the value of the signed MoUs. Commenting further, Arham said the second MoU involves bilateral cooperation between UMK and Upstream Downstream Process & Services Sdn Bhd, focusing on technology transfer and direct industry testing. 'As an entrepreneurial university, UMK strives to balance academic research needs with industrial application. This collaboration reflects UMK's commitment to driving the development of the local REE ecosystem in Kelantan,' he said. -- BERNAMA
Barnama
05-05-2025
- Business
- Barnama
UMK Graduate Employment Rate Reaches 97.2 Pct
BACHOK, May 5 (Bernama) – Universiti Malaysia Kelantan (UMK) recorded a Graduate Employment (GE) rate of 97.2 per cent last year, up from 94.5 per cent in 2023. UMK Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Arham Abdullah said the Graduate Marketability (GM) rate was also recorded at 96.7 per cent during the same period. 'This increase proves that UMK continues to produce outstanding graduates who meet industry demands. 'Improving both GE and GM rates remains a priority for the university, and since 2019 and 2020, we have consistently recorded rates above 90 per cent, compared to just 58 per cent in 2017,' he told reporters after delivering his speech at the Pro-Chancellor Proclamation and 14th UMK Convocation Ceremony here today. Arham added that last year, UMK also achieved several key milestones, including being ranked in the 401–600 band in the Times Higher Education Global Impact Rankings 2024. At the Asian level, UMK was placed in the 501–600 bracket in the World University Rankings Asia 2024, putting it on par with other world-class universities in the region. 'UMK was also listed for the first time among the top five universities in Malaysia under the Interdisciplinary Science Rankings 2025, in the 201–250 band. 'In addition, UMK received the prestigious 2025 Employers' Choice award under the 2025 Talentbank's National Graduate Employability Index initiative,' he said. A total of 3,014 graduates received their degrees at the convocation ceremony, including 53 Doctor of Philosophy graduates, four Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) recipients, 139 Master's degree holders and 2,818 Bachelor's degree graduates, among them 59 international graduates from eight countries.
