The partnership will see Access working closely with students from the University’s Information Systems and Data Analytics programmes, offering hands-on experience through internships, academic development exchanges, and participation in industry-relevant projects. With an emphasis on blending academic learning with real-world application, the partnership aims to equip students with the skills necessary to excel in a competitive, technology-driven job market.
Chee Gay Lim, Managing Director, Global Operations Centre (GOC), Kuala Lumpur, emphasised the importance of nurturing young talent, “This partnership with Heriot-Watt University Malaysia is a key step in building our GOC as a hub for technological innovation and development. At Access, we believe in investing in local communities and empowering young professionals to excel in the digital economy. By tapping into the enthusiasm and fresh perspectives of the country’s young workforce, we aim to foster a culture of creativity and progress while providing students with meaningful opportunities to contribute to Malaysia’s digital economy, which is expected to contribute 25.5% to Malaysia's GDP by 2025.”
The partnership will also extend beyond student development to include collaborative research projects that address real-world business challenges; Heriot-Watt students will have the opportunity to work alongside Access teams on initiatives designed to complement their learning and build the relevant skills needed to successfully kickstart their careers. This alignment of academic expertise and industry insight will ensure that both parties can stay ahead of market demands while shaping the future of business technology.
Professor Mushtak Al-Atabi, Provost and Chief Executive Officer of Heriot-Watt University Malaysia, emphasised the value of this collaboration: “We have a proven track record of nurturing tomorrow’s talent by producing highly employable graduates, while also fostering purpose-driven leaders. Companies like The Access Group are shaping and impacting the world – they are the kind of innovative organisations that our students aspire to work for.
This partnership will not only support their career progression and access to real life challenges but also offer The Access Group the chance to take advantage of the pioneering products, technologies and processes that we are continually developing, giving them a competitive edge in their market.”
This partnership complements the Group’s ambitious growth plans following the launch of its GOC in Kuala Lumpur in November 2024. The new GOC is poised to become a global hub for innovation and operational excellence, with a focus on creating over 1,000 jobs by calendar year 2027 and is aligned with Malaysia’s modern services aspirations, namely, to build an agile and competent local talent pool and create 500,000 high-value digital jobs by 2025. By partnering with leading academic institutions like Heriot-Watt University Malaysia, Access is investing in the future of Malaysia’s digital economy while fostering a pipeline of skilled talent ready to shape the technology landscape. The newly inked partnership will see both parties get the ball rolling on collaborative technology and research projects and firming up a calendar of events for students and Access Group employees to work together.
About The Access Group
The Access Group is one of the largest UK-headquartered business management software providers. It provides solutions that empower more than 128,000 small and mid-sized organisations in commercial and non-profit sectors across Europe, USA and APAC, giving every employee the freedom to do more of what’s important. Its innovative cloud solutions and integrated AI software experience across multiple Access products transform how business technology is used. Access employs over 8,000 people, continuously driving product innovation and customer service excellence.
For more information, visit www.theaccessgroup.com or follow @TheAccessGroup.
About Heriot-Watt University Malaysia
Heriot-Watt University is a global research-led university with five campuses in Scotland (Edinburgh, the Scottish Borders, and Orkney), Dubai and Malaysia. Around 27,000 students from 154 countries are currently studying with us. We have 166,000 alumni in more than 190 countries. We are specialists in business, engineering, design and the physical, social, sports, environmental and life sciences subjects which make a real impact on the world and society.
Heriot-Watt was founded in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1821 as the world’s first mechanics institute. In 1966,it became a university by Royal Charter. The university is named after 18th century Scottish engineer and inventor James Watt and 16th century Scottish philanthropist and goldsmith George Heriot.86.8% of Heriot-Watt's research is classed as world-leading and internationally excellent in the Research Excellence Framework 2021 – the UK’s system for assessing the excellence of research in UK higher education providers.
Heriot-Watt University Malaysia has been offering high-quality UK education and international study
opportunities since 2014. Its purpose-built, state-of-the-art, lakeside campus in Putrajaya is the first
“green campus” in Malaysia; catering to a global network of students, particularly those from bordering
countries. Committed to producing future-ready graduates who will go on to make an impact in the world, Heriot- Watt University Malaysia introduced a Purpose Driven Education approach to student and staff development in 2017. The University’s Purpose Driven Education focuses beyond academic excellence and promotes the holistic development of individuals. This purpose driven approach enables students and staff to better understand themselves, discover a sense of purpose, and mobilise that purpose into impact.
For any press inquiries, please reach out to The Hoffman Agency, on behalf of The Access Group:
Farhan Norazwan
[email protected]
Tan Qian Yi
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