SINTOK: The National Cooperative Movement (Angkasa) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) to strengthen their strategic partnership in education.
Angkasa president Datuk Seri Dr Abdul Fattah Abdullah said the collaboration builds on a previous successful MoU that concluded on September 21 last year.
Abdul Fattah said the earlier partnership had greatly benefited Angkasa personnel, particularly in enhancing management capabilities and competencies through the Master of Business Administration (MBA) programme.
"Under the previous collaboration, 47 Angkasa personnel were fully sponsored to pursue the MBA programme at UUM. Alhamdulillah, all of them successfully completed their studies with flying colours - an achievement worth celebrating.
"Led by Angkasa's Centre of Excellence and UUM's Cooperative and Entrepreneurship Development Institute (CEDI), this strategic collaboration promises to make a significant impact on human capital development within the nation's cooperative movement. UUM, as a leading institution of higher learning, offers a platform to enhance knowledge and skills in cooperative management, business, and finance. Angkasa will benefit immensely from UUM's academic expertise in improving the operational efficiency of cooperatives under its umbrella," he said during the MoU signing ceremony at EDC-UUM.
UUM vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Mohd Foad Sakdan also signed the MoU during the ceremony.
Abdul Fattah added that Angkasa intends to broaden the partnership's scope to include initiatives such as the Cooperative Leadership Programme, agriculture projects, and joint research efforts.
"Angkasa oversees more than 16,000 cooperatives with a membership of 7.2 million nationwide. Equipping leaders and staff with advanced competencies is crucial to driving the success of cooperatives," he said.
Meanwhile, Mohd Foad welcomed the collaboration, highlighting its role in advancing expertise in areas such as marketing, corporate governance, entrepreneurship, and research.
"Several training sessions have been successfully conducted for Angkasa, focusing on management and administrative skills. With UUM's expertise, these programmes can further refine the abilities of Angkasa staff in their respective roles. We hope this partnership will serve as a model for cooperative transformation, fostering sustainable and inclusive socio-economic growth for the nation," he added.