KUALA LUMPUR: UCSI University reaffirmed its abiding ties with its industry partners at its annual Industry Appreciation Dinner.

Attended by representatives from more than 300 leading organisations, the event acknowledged the impact UCSI’s partners have made, most notably through industry placement.

“Partnerships are at the heart of all we do at UCSI,” said UCSI vice-chancellor and president Prof Datuk Dr Siti Hamisah Tapsir.

“UCSI is the first university in Asia to make internship compulsory. When we first launched our Co-Op programme in 2004, we began with just 21 industry partners. Today, that number exceeds 4,800.

“We expand our network so our students can expand theirs. On top of internships, I’m glad to see students benefiting from job opportunities, technology transfers and joint research arrangements.”

UCSI’s ties with the industry has opened doors in the area of sponsorship.

New H3C Technologies - one of China’s top AI and digital solutions providers - has sponsored RM300,000 in the form of advanced networking and digital classroom equipment.

Billion Prima - Southeast Asia’s sole cargo and baggage scanner manufacturer has also committed RM260,000 to facilitate two Industry PhD programmes and a number of industry final-year projects.

UCSI’s Institute of Music - ranked 32nd in the world for performing arts - obtained RM90,000 in sponsorship from Music Bliss to equip  UCSI’s Kawai Music Lab with 15 state-of-the-art digital pianos.

UCSI also partners with YTL Corporation Bhd and DBKL on the Bintang Cemerlang 2.0 programme that enhances writing, reading and arithmetic skills for over 25,000 B40 children from 13 schools in Sentul.

Classified in the world’s top 1% for four straight years, UCSI is ranked 269 in the QS World University Rankings 2026. It stands out as one of Malaysia’s and Asia’s top private universities.