GTEST 2025 Attracts 500 Participants From 15 Countries

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 10 (Bernama) -- The Global Trends in Engineering, Science and Technology Congress (GTEST) 2025 has attracted nearly 500 participants from 15 countries, including those from ASEAN, in line with Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship in 2025.

GTEST 2025 features 11 conferences, which include the biennial flagship event of the Malaysian Technical University Network (MTUN), the Malaysian Technical Universities Conference on Engineering and Technology 2025 (MUCET 2025), as well as the Innovation Pitch and Business Matching (IPBM) programme.

Higher Education Deputy Minister Datuk Mustapha Sakmud said GTEST signifies the collective commitment across borders and sectors to address complex challenges through the power of engineering, science and technology.

“Malaysia stands firm in its belief that engineering, science and technology are not only the backbone of national development but also critical tools in navigating the challenges of the 21st century, be it climate change, digital transformation, energy transition or resilient infrastructure.

“The Government of Malaysia is resolute in repositioning Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) as a key national agenda. TVET is no longer an alternative route but a strategic pillar in driving high-income, high-technology growth,” he said in his opening speech at GTEST 2025 here today.

Mustapha said that the National TVET Policy 2030 represents a significant step forward in Malaysia’s efforts to cultivate a highly skilled workforce, align education with industry demands and strengthen the country’s global competitiveness.

He said the policy serves as a strategic roadmap for driving sustainable economic growth and promoting social mobility, in line with the aspiration that every individual, regardless of academic background, has access to meaningful, high-value employment through quality technical training.

“Public-private partnerships, international certification, and industry-driven curricula are central to this transformation. I call upon universities, polytechnics and industry leaders to work hand in hand to create future-ready talent who are job creators, not just job seekers,” he said.

Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP) vice-chancellor Datuk Prof Dr Zaliman Sauli, in his opening remarks, said the GTEST 2025 theme “Inclusive Innovation through Converging Technologies” reflects the university’s commitment to ensuring research benefits all levels of society and industry.

“Our conferences span engineering, semiconductor technology, applied sciences, artificial intelligence, renewable energy, social sciences, and business innovation. As a technical university, TVET is at the core of our mission.

“We are committed to advancing electrical and electronics, artificial intelligence, and various other disciplines. By aligning our teaching and research with industry needs, we drive innovation, strengthen the talent pool, and contribute to Malaysia’s technological growth,” he said.

Also present at the event were UniMAP’s Board of Directors chairman Tan Sri Sufri Mhd Zin and Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA) vice-chancellor Prof Dr Yatimah Alias.

At the same event, the MTUN Nexus was launched as a university-industry collaboration model aimed at strengthening strategic partnerships through research, innovation and consultancy projects.

It also seeks to enhance the collective and targeted expertise and visibility of MTUN, while streamlining operational support for each MTUN institution and their industry partners.

The model will drive six key frontier portfolios under MTUN, namely Renewable Energy (UMPSA), Agriculture 4.0 (UMPSA) and Mobility 4.0 (Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM)).

This includes Electrical & Electronics (UniMAP), Manufacturing 5.0 (Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM)) and Smart Digital Infrastructure 4.0 (UTeM).

This achievement stems from the “Strategic Synergy Model for the Malaysia Technical University Network University-Industry Partnership” project, which has been funded under the British Council’s Going Global Partnerships matching grant and the Malaysian Industry-Government Group for High Technology (MIGHT) from November 2021 until September 2025.

GTEST 2025, the three-day event beginning Sept 9, was organised by the Office of the Deputy Vice Chancellor and the Research Management Centre of UniMAP.

As for MUCET 2025, this year marks the participation of MTUN+ universities, further amplifying its relevance to the National TVET agenda by fostering applied research and industry alignment crucial for a skilled workforce.

-- BERNAMA