WMG,at the University of Warwick, and the National Defence University Malaysia yesterday (Monday 11th September) signed an agreement to offer a new MSc in International Technology Management for Defence and Security at the National Defence University Malaysia in Malaysia.

The three year programme, which will commence late September 2018, has been funded through an offsets arrangement as part of the THALES ForceSHIELD procurement contract between the Global Komited and Thales UK. WMG and UPNM in the past have already successfully run two other MSc programmes on similar arrangements. First, the MSc in Engineering Business Management for Defence and Security which was a collaboration between Cranfield University, UK Defence Academy, WMG and NDUM. Second, the on-going MSc in Cyber Security Management between WMG and NDUM which started in January 2016.

The MSc in International Technology Management in Defence and Security, with this international flavour, is a bespoke programme solely developed to cater to the growing needs of Malaysia and the region in technology awareness. Malaysia has a strong vision to develop the nation’s industrial and technological capability in the defence and security sector in line with the New Economic Model as well as their defence policy and industry blueprint. In order to achieve this, Malaysia needs to further enhance the nation’s human capacity in the defence and security sector through educating its work force, particularly in issues of technology management. Due to historical ties and familiarity with the British educational system, English language and excellent partnership track record, the Malaysian government through NDUM has engaged WMG, University of Warwick to deliver this programme.

NDUM is a premier university that has been solely set-up by the Malaysian government to educate and train government and industry officials in defence and security. WMG, at the University of Warwick, as part of the Russell group is one of the top ten universities in the UK. WMG has in the past several years successfully offered bespoke MSc programmes in defence and security to NDUM and the Malaysian government. This programme, as in the past,will be offered to the Malaysian Armed Forces, Ministry of Defence, Malaysian diplomats, other defence and security organisations, research institutions and defence and security industry.

The programme is expected to deliver 60 trained officials with an MSc degree at the end of 2021. Further, WMG is to assist NDUM in providing training and localisation of the MSc programme as part of the offsets agreement.