With the support of the Ministry of Higher Education, the parties will develop Malaysia into a hub for FlyingStart in South East Asia and jointly promote a worldwide network.
The two universities have exchanged a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), each in separate partnership with the NCGE and Prestariang during the 17th Conference of Commonwealth Education Ministers in Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre today.
FlyingStart Malaysia is an adapted version of FlyingStart UK that provides unique opportunities for students to experience intensive practically-focused 'business start-up training' from experience entrepreneurs and experts. It consists of specific entrepreneurship programmes to help graduates set up enterprises and an online support system. Originally organised by NCGE UK, FlyingStart programme is now brought into the local universities by Prestariang Systems.
“FlyingStart is a unique entrepreneurship programme because it opens to final years’ students from multiple disciplines,” says Ian Robertson, Chief Executive Officer of NCGE UK. “It also provides a 12-month of online mentoring support with personalise networking and advices for business needs,” he adds.
On top of all, students who enroll into FlyingStart Malaysia programme will enjoy the access to links and network of national and international entrepreneurs and experts. This will allow them to become competitive not only locally but also in the global market.
The strategic partnership establishes UiTM as the first higher education institution to pilot such programme to its students. During the pilot project, the university will provide the necessary facilities within its campus to some 30 students from various disciplines including Engineering, Information Technology, Arts and Design, Management, and Sciences.
Fully funded by Prestariang and with the support from NCGE UK, the face-to-face pilot FlyingStart Malaysia is expected to run for four (4) days in mid June 2009 at UiTM Shah Alam campus and continue the online mentoring for the next 12 month. A similar pilot programme will also be implemented in UMK campus in a later date.
Under the terms of the MOU, the four parties will collaborate on the support, development and research in the areas of graduate entrepreneurship and on the development of entrepreneurial universities under the FlyingStart programme.
The NCGE was set up in the UK in 2004 by the Chancellor of the Exchequer (now the Prime Minister), Gordon Brown, to develop a culture of entrepreneurship across higher education institutions in the UK. The NCGE focuses on the development of entrepreneurial leadership in UK universities, embedding entrepreneurship across the university curriculum and the development of entrepreneurial graduates.
Meanwhile incorporated in 2003, Prestariang Systems Sdn Bhd was established as the principle vehicle of its stakeholder’s aspiration to become the country’s premier ICT skills training and services provider. In partnership with The Ministry of Higher Education, Prestariang has successfully trained and certified more than 12,000 students throughout the country in the various globally benchmarked certifications such as those from Microsoft, IBM, Sun Microsystems, CompTIA, and Oracle.
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