Rebecca PY TP-Link Distribution Malaysia has signed a three-year MoU with Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia to integrate enterprise networking training, certification and internship pathways directly into the university’s academic environment. The collaboration expands TP-Link Malaysia’s growing network of university partnerships aimed at developing industry-ready digital talent across the country.
MALAYSIA, 15 MAY 2026 – TP-Link Distribution Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. has formalised a three-year collaboration with Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia through a Memorandum of Understanding, marking its latest move to build a structured and scalable pipeline of enterprise networking professionals to support Malaysia’s growing digital economy.
The partnership goes beyond a conventional academic arrangement. Rather than treating the university as an isolated engagement, TP-Link Malaysia is deliberately connecting USIM into a broader institutional ecosystem where students are trained, certified and equipped with the practical competencies that the industry actively demands.
Central to the collaboration is the deployment of TP-Link’s Omada enterprise networking solutions within USIM’s campus laboratories. This gives students direct access to infrastructure that mirrors real-world enterprise environments, moving the learning experience well beyond theoretical instruction. The programme combines hands-on technical training, structured workshops and a clear pathway to the Omada Certified Network Administrator certification, ensuring that graduates leave with validated, industry-recognised qualifications rather than academic knowledge alone.
A defining feature of the collaboration is its direct link to employment. Students will be offered industrial training and internship placements with TP-Link Malaysia, providing structured exposure to professional environments and a more seamless transition into the digital workforce.
Hugo Cai, Regional Director of TP-Link Malaysia, emphasised that the focus has shifted from education in isolation to effective talent transition, noting that enterprises today require professionals who can operate digital infrastructure, not merely understand it in principle.
Prof. Ts. Dr. Mohd Ikmar Nizam Hj. Mohamad Isa, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research and Innovation at USIM, described the partnership as an opportunity to embed practical industry elements into the university’s academic delivery, better equipping students to meet the evolving expectations of Malaysia’s digital economy.
The USIM collaboration builds on TP-Link Malaysia’s existing engagements with Universiti Malaya and Universiti Teknologi MARA, forming a growing network of aligned institutions working toward a shared goal of developing enterprise networking talent at scale. In 2025, approximately 500 students participated in the OCNA certification pathway, reflecting strong and growing uptake of industry-aligned programmes.
Beyond talent development, both organisations will explore opportunities in research collaboration, faculty engagement and knowledge exchange, further strengthening the bridge between academic institutions and industry practice.
As Malaysia continues to scale its digital infrastructure investments, the capacity to develop and deploy skilled technical talent consistently is expected to become an increasingly critical factor in sustaining that growth. The TP-Link and USIM partnership represents one of the more concrete examples of how structured industry-academia collaboration can directly address this national priority.