KUCHING – Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus and Mango Media Sdn Bhd have officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a five-year strategic partnership aimed at advancing innovation in education, research and talent development in the areas of media, technology and entrepreneurship.
The signing ceremony, held at Saloma, Kuala Lumpur, on 11 April 2025, signifies the beginning of a collaboration that merges Swinburne Sarawak’s academic strength with Mango Media’s global media network and creative industry expertise. This strategic partnership aims to enrich student experiences, foster industry-relevant skills and support the regional digital economy agenda in line with Malaysia’s and Sarawak’s development goals.
Signing the MoU on behalf of Swinburne Sarawak was its Pro Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive Officer Ir Professor Lau Hieng Ho, while Mango Media was represented by its General Manager, Mr Jiang Zhong Qi. The MoU was signed in the presence of YB Teo Nie Ching, Deputy Minister of Communications Malaysia; Dato’ Azmir Saifuddin bin Mutalib, Chief Executive Officer, National Film Development Corporation Malaysia; and Mr Samuel Lee, Deputy Director General (Promotion II), Tourism Malaysia.
As part of the collaboration, both parties will engage in joint research and media production, focusing on the development of culturally significant short films and multimedia content. These creative works will not only enhance academic discourse and student learning but will also serve as alternative platforms for disseminating research findings to broader audiences. The partnership opens up opportunities to secure research and creative industry grants from both local and international bodies, supporting innovation at the intersection of academia and media.
In addition, the MoU paves the way for international Work Integrated Learning (WIL) and internship programs. Through Mango Media’s well-established industry networks, students from Swinburne Sarawak will gain access to international placements and real-world experiences in multimedia production, digital marketing, cultural entrepreneurship and new media technologies. This aligns with Swinburne’s commitment to preparing students for the future of work through global exposure and hands-on learning.
The collaboration will also explore advancements in Extended Reality (XR) technologies. Leveraging expertise from both institutions, the initiative will support the development of immersive content using Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR) and Mixed Reality (MR) tools. The projects will be housed within Swinburne’s Design Hub, envisioned as a commercial platform offering XR content creation, consulting and training services to government agencies, tourism stakeholders and industry partners.
To further bridge academic learning with industry relevance, the MoU includes the integration of Swinburne’s SPINE model into social media and entrepreneurship units. This involves co-developing case studies, practical modules and industry-focused projects that will provide students with tangible skills and a deeper understanding of digital branding, communication strategy and online business development.
The partnership also focuses on entrepreneurship and talent development initiatives. These will be delivered through specialised short courses, hands-on training and media-centric workshops under Swinburne Sarawak’s Entrepreneurship Hub. The goal is to cultivate creative entrepreneurs equipped to thrive in the fast-evolving digital economy, while also strengthening the university’s innovation ecosystem and industry engagement.
Aligned with the Swinburne Horizon 2025 strategic plan and Sarawak’s Post Covid-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030, the partnership with Mango Media underscores Swinburne Sarawak’s role as a forward-looking, industry-connected institution. It further exemplifies the university’s vision of delivering global-ready graduates and contributing meaningfully to the socio-economic growth of the region.
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