KUALA NERUS, TERENGGANU, 22 JANUARY 2021 – Institut Teknologi Petroleum PETRONAS (INSTEP) and Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (UTP) entered into a joint development agreement in developing an Augmented Reality (AR) application for INSTEP’s Upstream Downstream Training Plant (UDTP). This AR application provides an interactive learning experience of the live training plant environment at UDTP, which simulates upstream and downstream plant scenarios, where learners get to interact with the real-world facilities or equipment via computer-generated perceptual information.
Present during the virtual signing ceremony on Tuesday were INSTEP’s Chief Executive Officer, Idris Ibrahim and UTP’s Vice Chancellor Prof Ts Dr Mohamed Ibrahim Abdul Mutalib. This virtual signing ceremony witnessed the first ever collaboration forged between these learning solutions partners in bringing virtual learning, a step ahead by digitalising the physical learning facilities to enhance learners’ learning retention, especially amidst this unprecedented time when physical learning is restricted.
Through this partnership, INSTEP and UTP have jointly developed a pilot digital module app via the AR approach to complement the existing training modules related to INSTEP’s UDTP.
“In our efforts to constantly innovate our learning delivery and technology, this AR module app is one of our many more ‘Innovate Now’ initiatives that complement our existing Virtual Instructor-Led Training (VILT) and live demonstration to create enhanced experiential learning, and support our learners and customers to grow virtually,” said Idris.
Commenting on the collaboration, Prof Ts Dr Mohamed Ibrahim said: “This partnership is in tandem with PETRONAS’ initiatives of going digital and embracing digitalisation. The digitalisation of training contents will catalyse trainings to greater heights. It also enhances the quality of our research, productivity as well as enables the extension and application of knowledge to address both local and global needs. This is in line with the University’s aspiration to enhance our distinctiveness and competitive advantage through our value propositions.”
Established in 1981, INSTEP accelerates human capital development in the energy industry and has produced more than 130,000 competent technical workforce globally. The year 2021 marks INSTEP’s 40 years of contribution to building technical competencies and commitment in enriching the energy workforce towards a sustainable future.
UTP, which was founded in 1997, is one of the leading universities in the region. It offers a wide range of industry-relevant engineering, science and technology programmes as well as management and humanities at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Some 24 years on, the university has produced over 19,000 graduates from more than 60 countries and has become one of the main feeders within the region in producing competent talents and workforce.
