Curtin University Malaysia and Uniqlo Malaysia have partnered to launch a strategic collaboration building global career pathways and enhancing graduate employability for students.
The collaboration was formalised through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Sept 29, 2026 at Curtin University Malaysia in Miri, Sarawak.
The partnership highlights a shared commitment to education and career readiness, marking the beginning of a Talent Development Programme. The initiative is designed to give students practical exposure to the retail industry while building the skills, confidence, and global perspectives needed to navigate an increasingly interconnected workforce.
The partnership builds on Uniqlo Malaysia’s recent engagement with Curtin Malaysia through the Curtin Malaysia X MYFutureJobs Careers Fair 2026 held on Aug 13-14 in Miri, Sarawak.
The collaboration focuses on four key initiatives: the Global Management Programme (GMP), Internship Experience, On-Campus Engagement, and Marketing & Promotion.
Through these initiatives, students from Curtin Malaysia will gain opportunities to engage directly with industry professionals from Uniqlo, gain practical insights into the retail industry, and develop skills that complement their academic learning.
The partnership will also give students pathways and exposure to Uniqlo’s international operations, as well as hands-on retail and corporate workplace across various business functions in Malaysia and overseas.
For Uniqlo Malaysia, the partnership forms part of its ongoing commitment to nurturing regional talent for leadership roles within its expanding retail operations.
Speaking at the ceremony, Curtin University Malaysia deputy pro vice-chancellor Professor Tuong-Thuy Vu said the partnership was fundamentally about developing people and creating meaningful pathways from university to the workplace.
“Today’s signing represents our shared commitment to developing the next generation of talent and creating stronger pathways between higher education and the world of work,” he said.
He added that preparing students for the future required more than academic excellence, with real-world experience, industry exposure and professional competencies increasingly important in a competitive and rapidly evolving global workforce.
“By working closely with industry partners such as Uniqlo, we are ensuring that our students benefit from valuable practical experiences and gain the skills, confidence and global perspectives required to succeed in the modern workforce,” he said.
Meanwhile, Fast Retailing Co Ltd senior group executive officer Noriaki Koyama said the partnership would build on Uniqlo’s existing engagement with Curtin Malaysia and provide students with meaningful opportunities to experience the realities of a global retail business while enabling the company to engage with emerging talent.
“Developing local talent is an important part of how we continue to grow our business in Malaysia.
“Through this partnership with Curtin Malaysia, we hope to create more opportunities for students to build their careers with Uniqlo, gain experience across different parts of our business in Malaysia and overseas, and broaden their perspectives through exposure to our global operations.
“In the longer term, we hope these experiences will help nurture talent who can take on leadership roles and contribute to the continued growth of our business in Malaysia,” he said.
The partnership reflects a shared commitment by Curtin Malaysia and Uniqlo to strengthen the connection between academia and industry. By combining Curtin Malaysia’s academic environment with Uniqlo’s global business experience, the collaboration aims to give students a more holistic understanding of the workplace and support the development of talent equipped to pursue careers in an increasingly interconnected global economy.
