Tuaran: University Malaysia Sabah (UMS), through its Faculty of Food Science and Nutrition, entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Shangri-La Rasa Ria Resort at the resort here recently.
The signing ceremony marked a significant milestone in fostering collaboration between academia and the hospitality industry.
Among those present were UMS Vice-Chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Kasim Mansor; Shangri-La Rasa Ria Resort General Manager Fiona Hagan; UMS Registrar Luqman Ridha; Faculty of Food Science and Nutrition Dean Prof Ts Dr Hasmadi Mamat; Shangri-La Rasa Ria Resort Director of ESG Yvonne Sipain; and delegates from the Faculty of Food Science and Nutrition.
This collaboration aims to strengthen four key areas: students’ academic development by providing enhanced learning opportunities, internships and industry exposure, ensuring that students gain hands-on experience in real-world settings and develop industry-relevant skills; research and innovation through joint research initiatives to advance food science and nutrition practices, fostering new discoveries, product development and improvements in food sustainability and safety; collaboration in faculty programmes by facilitating industry-driven curriculum enhancement and professional development programmes, ensuring that academic courses remain relevant and aligned with industry needs; and staff exchange and empowerment to promote knowledge-sharing and training programmes for mutual growth, allowing both UMS and Shangri-La Rasa Ria Resort to benefit from shared expertise, insights, and professional development opportunities.
Speaking at the event, Dr Kasim expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership, stating that the MoU marks a new era of collaboration between UMS and Shangri-La Rasa Ria Resort.
“It will provide invaluable opportunities for our students, researchers and faculty members to work closely with industry experts, driving innovation and academic excellence.”
Echoing the sentiment, Hagan highlighted the importance of bridging academia and industry, saying, “We are excited to partner with UMS in this meaningful initiative.
This collaboration will not only nurture young talent but also pave the way for sustainable and innovative practices in the hospitality and food science sectors.”
The partnership is expected to set a new benchmark for industry-academic collaboration, fostering an ecosystem of knowledge exchange, skill development and sustainable innovation.
