USM Strengthens Academic and Research Collaboration with Schott Glass Malaysia

USM, PENANG, 29 July 2026 – The School of Physics, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), was pleased to welcome Dr. Steffen Koehler, Vice President of Research and Development (R&D) and New Product Introduction (NPI) for Augmented Reality at Schott Glass Malaysia, to explore potential collaborations in academia, talent development and research.

The visit was received by Associate Professor Dr. Azhar Abdul Rahman, Dean of the School of Physics, together with Associate Professor Dr. Ahmad Fairuz Omar, Deputy Dean (Research, Innovation and Industry-Community Engagement), Associate Professor Dr. Mohd Mahadi Halim, Deputy Dean (Academic, Career and International), and academic staff from relevant fields at the School of Physics.

The discussion focused on exploring several potential areas of collaboration, including undergraduate industrial training, minor projects, the Industry in Classroom initiative, as well as research collaboration in optics and materials science.

The collaboration is expected to provide students with broader exposure to real-world industrial environments and industry requirements, while strengthening their knowledge and skills in line with current technological developments. At the same time, research collaboration could facilitate the sharing of expertise and the exploration of research areas with potential industrial applications.

The strategic partnership with Schott Glass Malaysia reflects the School of Physics commitment to strengthening academia-industry linkages, particularly through collaboration in education, talent development, research and innovation.

The collaboration is also expected to serve as a catalyst for more joint initiatives in the future, thereby strengthening the academia-industry ecosystem and supporting the advancement of innovation in physics, optics and materials science.

Text: Dr. Mohd Marzaini Mohd Rashid