SYNOPSIS

The sharing starts with an introduction into the university education system and the research landscape in Germany. A special focus on engineering education, especially the application-oriented engineering education at the university of applied sciences. In addition to the traditional university degree programmes, university of applied sciences in Germany offer various study models with a strong practical orientation and work integration, in a combination of vocational training and studies, with intensive and regular practical phases in a company. Another focus is on demand-oriented contract research conducted by the Fraunhofer Society for the industry. Specific examples from the University of Applied Sciences Heilbronn and the Fraunhofer Institute for Mechatronic Systems Design IEM will be highlighted. In a nutshell, this sharing provides insights for comparison with the Malaysian education and research system.


BIODATA OF SPEAKER

Assoc. Prof. Ir. Dr. Low Cheng Yee

Low Cheng Yee studied mechanical engineering at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia and mechatronics at King’s College London. In 2009, he received his Ph.D. degree from University of Paderborn in Germany in the field of design methodology for advanced mechatronic systems. He is an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering at Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM).

He is a Corporate Member of the Institution of Engineers Malaysia (IEM) and a Professional Engineer (Ir.) registered with the Board of Engineers Malaysia. He is a Research Ambassador of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and an alumni of the DIES University Leadership and Management Training Programme (UNILEAD).

In collaboration with the Fraunhofer Institute for Mechatronic Systems Design in Germany, he co-founded a joint innovation lab (innovationlabs.my) at UTHM in 2019. The aim is to establish the Fraunhofer model for applied research in Malaysia by promoting the transfer of knowledge and technology between research and industry and the emergence of innovations at universities. He also manages the cooperation between UTHM and Hochschule Osnabrueck, Hochschule Heilbronn and Hochschule Nordhausen.

His research focuses on the cross-disciplinary development of intelligent mechatronic systems, particularly for use cases in smart factories and smart health.