Astro Strengthens Academia–Industry Collaboration Through UiTM CEO@Faculty Series

Astro continues to play an active role in strengthening collaboration between industry and academia as part of its commitment to developing future-ready talent for Malaysia’s evolving media and creative ecosystem. Recently, Astro participated in Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) CEO@Faculty Industry Captain Talks Series, an initiative under the Ministry of Higher Education (MoHE) aimed at bridging academic learning with real-world industry perspectives.

As part of the programme, Astro Group Chief Executive Officer Euan Smith delivered a sharing session titled “Think Like a Generalist: A Graduate’s Cheat Sheet to Thrive in the Workplace & Industry.” The session offered students and academics insights into how the nature of work is changing, particularly in an environment shaped by digital disruption, artificial intelligence, automation and shifting workforce expectations.

During the session, Euan highlighted the growing importance of adaptability and cross-disciplinary thinking, emphasising that careers today are no longer linear. Graduates who remain relevant are those who develop depth in one strong anchor skill, while also building broader understanding across people, technology and ideas. This balance, often described as a T-shaped skill profile, enables individuals to collaborate more effectively, make better decisions and adapt as roles and industries continue to evolve.

The session also provided students with practical exposure to how these principles are applied in real-world organisations such as Astro. Drawing from Astro’s experience operating at the intersection of content, technology, platforms, audiences and business, the discussion illustrated how leadership decisions are shaped by multiple considerations, including customer needs, innovation, brand trust, regulation and organisational culture. This perspective offered students a clearer understanding of how theoretical knowledge translates into practical decision-making within a complex media environment.

Astro’s participation in the CEO@Faculty Series reflects its broader commitment to supporting academia–industry collaboration and contributing to Malaysia’s talent development agenda. By sharing leadership perspectives and industry experience, Astro aims to help equip graduates with the mindset, skills and adaptability required to navigate change and contribute meaningfully to the media and creative industries, both today and in the future.

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