Bridging Academia and Industry: Closing Ceremony of the 5th Industry in Classroom Program 2025

10 July 2025 – The School of Physics successfully concluded the 5th Industry in Classroom Program, a flagship initiative aimed at fostering meaningful engagement between academia and industry. The closing ceremony brought together postgraduate students, academic staff, and industrial representatives in a vibrant celebration of knowledge sharing, collaboration, and professional development.
The event began with opening remarks by Dr. David Lacey, President of the Semiconductor Fabrication Association of Malaysia and Director of R&D at ams OSRAM, who emphasized the importance of sustained collaboration between academia and industry to support national talent development and technological advancement.
The program, which initially began with the involvement of ams OSRAM, has progressively expanded to include leading technology partners such as SilTerra Malaysia, Inari Technology, and AT&S Malaysia. These industry collaborators contributed significant expertise from diverse domains, including semiconductor manufacturing, photonic devices, advanced packaging materials, and LED technologies, reflecting the growing breadth and depth of USM’s industry linkage.

Spanning five weeks from May to June 2025, the program featured 12 technical lectures delivered by experts from the participating companies. Topics ranged from LED test measurements, UVC LED technologies, and GaN growth via MOCVD, to chip design, packaging materials, and substrates for AI chip applications. The lecture series not only deepened students' technical knowledge but also provided invaluable insights into industrial workflows, challenges, and innovations.
The closing remarks were delivered by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Azhar Abdul Rahman, Dean of the School of Physics, who commended the organizing committee for their dedication and emphasized the importance of expanding the program to include more industry partners and participants. He highlighted that such initiatives not only reinforce academic–industry collaboration but also reduce barriers for postgraduates entering the workforce and enhance networking opportunities for students.
The ceremony concluded with the presentation of certificates of participation, followed by a group photo session and informal networking over light refreshments. Students and industry guests reflected on the meaningful connections made and knowledge gained throughout the program.

The success of the 5th Industry in Classroom Program stands as a testament to USM’s commitment to nurturing future-ready graduates through strategic academic–industry partnerships. The organizing committee extends heartfelt appreciation to all industry collaborators and student participants for their dedication, contribution, and continued support in making this program an ongoing success.