UCSI University’s Deputy Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Prof. Lee Chai Buan (second, left) and Area Sales Manager for NI, James Lai, signing the Memorandum of Understanding, witnessed by Dr Jimmy Mok, Dean for the Faculty of Engineering

UCSI University’s engineering student, Lee Thean Chai demonstrates how his invention is used on a volunteer during his presentation after the MoU signing.

Engr. Rodney Tan Hean Gay and Lee Thean Chai receive their certificates and trophies from James Lai, Area Sales Manager for NI.

Engr. Rodney Tan gives Deputy Vice Chancellor, Prof. Dr Lee Chai Buan and other guests a short tour of the NI Virtual Instrumentation Laboratory.

Kuala Lumpur, 21 December, 2010 - UCSI University’s engineering students are set to be more industry-relevant in a smart collaboration with National Instruments (NI). The two parties today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in a bid to introduce more industry-relevant instruments at UCSI University’s engineering laboratories and to enhance the University’s engineering curriculum to be more industry-driven. The MoU was signed by UCSI University’s Deputy Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Professor Dr Lee Chai Buan, and Mr James Lai, Area Sales Manager for NI. 

UCSI University students can also expect to attend classes in a brand new laboratory, outfitted with the latest equipment from NI. The NI Virtual Instrumentation Laboratory is especially designed to enable students bring to life their ideas into workable prototypes. 

This collaborative partnership provides UCSI University students access to high quality industrial tools, enabling them to apply their theoretical knowledge to real world settings. According to the Dean for the Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and Built Environment, Engr. Dr. Jimmy Mok Vee Hoong, this is essential for UCSI University to create more employable graduates. “Most employers today seek graduates who are technically savvy with NI instruments, particularly, the LabVIEW series as it is widely used across a variety of platforms.” 

National Instruments devices are used by more than 30,000 companies around the world, including 90 percent of Fortune 500 manufacturing companies. According to Lai, this creates a strong network which UCSI University students could benefit from. “NI tools also enable students to bring to life what they have learned theoretically in the classrooms, to apply them to today’s environment to improve the quality of life in the world.” 

In the long run, this UCSI-NI smart collaboration would also benefit the School of Engineering teaching staff by exposing them to the most relevant industry practices, since the University would be among the first to test run their latest products. The academic staff will also undergo stringent examinations to enable them to teach using NI tools, which would consequently enable them to conduct professional courses on NI’s behalf later. 

After the signing ceremony, UCSI University’s engineering student, Lee Thean Chai, and his advisor, Engr. Rodney Tan Hean Gay were presented with certificates and trophies for having won the coveted award for Best Innovation in Biomedical & Pharmaceutical Applications in a recent competition by NI. Lee’s invention, the Cool/Heat Therapy Strap, had overcome the shortcomings of the traditional cold and warm compress to beat 16 other participants from around the region. 

By handing six other submissions to the competition, it also earned UCSI University special recognition from NI as Best LabVIEW Advocate.