SHAH ALAM, 15 APRIL 2026 – Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) and Sportathlon (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd. officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) today at the Chancellory Building, UiTM Shah Alam, marking a significant step towards strengthening academic and industry collaboration. The ceremony was attended by university dignitaries, faculty members, industry representatives, and students from both institutions.
Sportathlon (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd. is a leading fitness and wellness company in Malaysia, recognised for managing prominent gymnasium brands such as Celebrity Fitness and Fitness First. The company has actively contributed to promoting healthy lifestyles, fitness education, and professional talent development nationwide.
The MoU aims to strengthen collaboration in areas related to sports science, recreation, sports retail, fitness management, and industry development. Through this partnership, students and academic staff are expected to benefit from practical exposure, industry-based learning, collaborative research, and professional development opportunities.
The ceremony commenced with remarks by Professor Ts Dr Hajah Nor Hayati binti Saad, Assistant Vice Chancellor (Strategy), who highlighted the importance of industry-academic collaborations in enhancing educational quality, innovation, and graduate employability. This was followed by remarks from Eric Niekerk, Managing Director of Sportathlon (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., who reaffirmed the company’s commitment towards talent development and student industry exposure.
Following the speeches, representatives from both institutions proceeded with the formal signing of the MoU. The signing symbolised a shared commitment towards strengthening education, research, and industry engagement within Malaysia’s sports and fitness ecosystem.
Prior to this MoU, several students from the Faculty of Sports Science and Recreation (FSR), UiTM had already completed internships and industrial training placements at selected Celebrity Fitness and Fitness First outlets managed by Sportathlon. The collaboration is expected to expand future opportunities for student placements, industry-sharing sessions, academic visits, fitness certification programmes, collaborative research, and involvement in sports event management and sports marketing projects.
This partnership reflects a shared vision to contribute to the advancement of Malaysia’s sports, fitness, and education sectors through meaningful industry-academic collaboration.