KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 26): Institut Teknologi Petroleum Petronas (INSTEP) and Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP) have signed a joint development agreement to develop an augmented reality (AR) module app.

Through the partnership, INSTEP and UTP will mutually develop a pilot digital module app for INSTEP’s first-of-its-kind live Upstream Downstream Training Plant (UDTP), which simulates upstream and downstream plant scenarios to produce job-ready engineers and technicians through real plant experiential learning.

In a statement released after the virtual signing ceremony, INSTEP chief executive officer (CEO) Idris Ibrahim said: “Constantly innovating our learning delivery and technology, this newly developed AR module app is one of our many more ‘Innovate Now’ initiatives in complementing our existing virtual instructor-led training (VILT) and live demonstration to create enhanced experiential learning and support our learners and customers to grow virtually.”

Meanwhile, UTP Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Mohamed Ibrahim Abdul Mutalib said: “This partnership is in tandem with Petronas’ (Petroliam Nasional Bhd) initiatives of going digital and embracing digitalisation.”

He added that with the digitalisation of training content, it will catalyse training to greater heights and enhance the quality of his research, productivity as well as enable 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,” said Mohamed Ibrahim.

UTP noted that the agreement marks the first-ever collaboration between the learning solution partners in bringing virtual learning a step ahead by digitalising physical learning facilities to enhance learners’ learning retention, especially amid this unprecedented time when physical learning is restricted.