Schneider Electric and Curtin Malaysia renew partnership to build future-ready talent

Schneider Electric and Curtin University Malaysia have renewed their partnership through a new three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening industry-academia collaboration and preparing graduates for emerging opportunities in engineering, technology and sustainability.

The renewed partnership comes as Sarawak advances its ambitions to become a regional leader in renewable and low-carbon energy, increasing demand for graduates with technical, digital and interpersonal skills.

The MoU was formally signed at the Curtin Malaysia campus in Miri on 12 August 2026 by Jin Hui Yau, Human Resources Director, Malaysia and East Asia One Solution Center at Schneider Electric, and Professor Vincent Lee Chieng Chen, Pro Vice-Chancellor, President and Chief Executive of Curtin Malaysia.

The agreement expands a partnership first established in February 2022 and provides a broader framework for collaboration in curriculum development, knowledge exchange, graduate internships, employment opportunities and alumni engagement.

Under the renewed agreement, Schneider Electric will provide industry input into Curtin Malaysia’s engineering and technology curricula, while both organisations will explore opportunities to exchange expertise, technologies and industry best practices.

The partnership will also create stronger pathways for students and graduates through internships and potential employment opportunities, while enabling Schneider Electric to engage more closely with Curtin Malaysia’s alumni community.

Yau said the partnership would help strengthen Sarawak’s talent pipeline by connecting academic learning with industry experience and creating clearer pathways into careers.

Professor Lee said digitalisation and sustainability were reshaping the engineering and technology landscape, requiring graduates to be adaptable and prepared for rapid transformation.

The partnership renewal was accompanied by industry engagements at Curtin Malaysia from 12 to 14 August. These included the forum “Powering Sarawak’s Future – Energy Transition, Technology and Career Opportunities”, which brought together representatives from Schneider Electric, Curtin Malaysia and Sarawak Energy.

During the forum, Sarawak Energy Chief Digital Officer Sim Ko Sin highlighted the importance of developing skills beyond engineering and technical expertise as the energy transition increasingly requires collaboration across different disciplines.

Students also explored changing workplace expectations during the “Future Careers 2030 – Preparing Graduates for an AI-Powered Workplace” panel discussion, where Yau represented Schneider Electric. The company additionally engaged students on internship and graduate employment opportunities during the Curtin Malaysia x MYFutureJobs Careers Fair 2026.

The renewed partnership reflects growing efforts by universities and businesses to align education with changing workforce requirements as digitalisation, artificial intelligence and the energy transition reshape career opportunities.

The collaboration also forms part of Schneider Electric’s wider engagement with tertiary institutions in Malaysia, including Universiti Malaya, INTI International University & Colleges and Sunway University. The company, which is marking 40 years in Malaysia in 2026, said it continues to focus on developing talent and capabilities needed to support the country’s future industries, infrastructure and energy transition.