Back (from left): YTL Cement Group CEO Datuk Yeoh Soo Keng, Deputy Minister of Higher Education Datuk Hj Mohammad Yusof bin Apdal, Minister of Higher Education Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled bin Nordin, Ministry of Higher Education deputy chief policy secretary Datuk Dr Haji Megat Sany Megat Ahmad Supian. Front (from left): Higher Education director Prof Dr Azlinda Azman and Associated Pan Malaysia Cement Sdn Bhd executive director Datuk Hamidah Maktar at the Memorandum of Understanding exchange session.

KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 26): YTL Cement Bhd said the company and the Ministry of Higher Education have jointly launched the country’s first university-industry research consortium in collaboration with five universities.

The universities are Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah, Universiti Malaysia Sabah and Universiti Malaysia Sarawak.

YTL Cement also said that it is awarding scholarships to 40 Masters and PhD students for research on sustainability of the tropical limestone karst landscape in Malaysia, with a matching grant from the ministry over five years.

“This research consortium is the first of its kind in this country, to create a university-industry collaborative network, ensuring that universities’ post-graduate research will be relevant to the needs of the country," said Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Khaled Nordin in a a statement on Thursday.

“At the same time, this will strengthen the bond between universities and industry, for mutual benefit. I am confident that the results of this research will provide important information that will complement the National Mineral Policy,” he added.

Meanwhile, YTL Cement managing director Datuk Seri Michael Yeoh said the research will provide the country with a comprehensive understanding of its tropical limestone karst landscapes needed to make informed decisions on their sustainable management.

“YTL Cement is the first and currently the only company in Malaysia to undertake conservation efforts at an active quarrying site.

“In this regard, we also plan to set up a dedicated research centre at the Bukit Kanthan Geosite that will serve as a research and education hub on tropical limestone karst,” Yeoh said.