Industry–Academia Collaboration Strengthens Talent Development in Support of Visit Malaysia Year

The MOU was signed during D’Tandoor’s 33rd Anniversary Media Appreciation Night, an event held at Michelin Restaurant, Roti by d’Tandoor.

Aligned with Visit Malaysia Year, the collaboration aims to develop industry-ready talent for Malaysia’s tourism and hospitality sectors. Through the partnership, UNITAR students will gain practical, real-world experience. They will have exposure to professional culinary environments and industry practices, directly enhancing their employability.

Dr. Jagdeep Singh Jassel, Vice–Chancellor and Chief Executive of UNITAR University College Kuala Lumpur, highlighted the importance of these collaborations. He said such partnerships play a key role in preparing a workforce that can drive Malaysia’s tourism growth. UNITAR works with industry partners to bridge academic learning and real-world practice. This helps ensure graduates have relevant skills, adaptability, and readiness to contribute to tourism and hospitality.

The collaboration also underscores the significance of industry access and facilities in nurturing a workforce that meets evolving industry demands, particularly as Malaysia continues to strengthen its position as a preferred tourism destination.

As one of Malaysia’s most established North Indian restaurant groups, D’Tandoor International Group of Restaurant brings decades of culinary expertise and operational experience to the partnership. Dato’ Seri Dr. Abdul Malik bin Abdullah, Chairman of D’Tandoor International Group of Restaurant, shared that as an industry player, D’Tandoor believes in investing in talent development by working closely with academic institutions. He added that the collaboration with UNITAR enables the sharing of industry practices and facilities while supporting the development of a skilled, industry‑ready workforce that will contribute to the long‑term growth of Malaysia’s hospitality sector and tourism ambitions.

The MOU was signed by Dato’ Seri Dr. Abdul Malik bin Abdullah, Chairman of D’Tandoor Food Industries Sdn Bhd and Dr. Jagdeep Singh Jassel, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of UNITAR University College Kuala Lumpur and witnessed by Yang Berbahagia Dato’ Shaharuddin bin Abu Sohot Secretary General, The Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC).

Industry–academia collaborations play a vital role in strengthening graduate employability by exposing students to real-world industry practices while they are still at university. At UNITAR, a strong emphasis on collaboration with industry partners has contributed to a graduate employability rate of 98 per cent, reflecting the institution’s commitment to aligning academic programmes with industry needs. By bridging theory and practice through applied learning and industry engagement, UNITAR continues to equip its graduates to contribute effectively to key sectors such as tourism and hospitality.