Tuanku Abdul Rahman College (TAR College) has signed an MoU on 10 November 2009 with IME Trading Sdn Bhd (IME) to formalize a cooperative partnership in the areas of education, engineering and project management in conjunction to the set up of the College new research centre called Advanced Engineering Research Centre (AERC).

AERC is TARC new initiative to facilitate research in engineering, computer aided design and related manufacturing systems and to intensify efforts towards applied research in collaboration with industries to help to resolve real life and real time problems faced by industries.

Dr Tan Chik Heok, the Principal of TAR College in his message at the launch said “We are taking the first bold step on a new journey towards research partnership with the industry….. and in this way TAR College will stay relevant as a provider of skilled and competent graduates as well as a partner in resolving problems faced by the industry.”

The College has cooperated successfully with IME (a very well established and credible supplier of computer aided design training and manufacturing field) in the development of computer aided design education under Certified Solid Works Professional (CSWP) qualification for its students. So far, 12 graduates have achieved the achieved this qualification.

The staff and students in the College will benefit from such collaboration in terms of working in an industrial environment, ranging from industrial practice required for professional engineer registration to research towards the awards of higher postgraduate qualifications at Master degree and Doctorate degree levels.

The MoU signing represented an innovative move in the transformative process for the College to move from merely an academic institution of higher learning to research partnerships through industrial links and ultimately to contribute to engineering education.