Southern University College Industrial Design Department Visits Muar Furniture Industry – Exploring New Avenues for Industry-Academia Collaboration 
On August 30, 2025, a group of 45 students and lecturers from the Department of Industrial Design, Faculty of Art and Design, Southern University College, embarked on a meaningful industry visit to Muar Furniture Association and BSL Furniture Sdn. Bhd.
Led by five faculty members, including the Dean, Deputy Dean, Head of Department, Programme Coordinator, and Senior Lecturer, the visit aimed to deepen students’ understanding of the Muar furniture industry’s development and explore potential future directions.
During the insightful dialogue session with the Muar Furniture Association, our delegation was warmly welcomed by President Mr. Steve Ong , Deputy President Mr. Jeffery Eng, Vice Presidents Mr. Nick Wee and Mr. Ethan Eng Choon Heng, and Council Member Mr. Gavin Chua. The association shared in-depth insights into the current landscape and challenges of the furniture industry, highlighting a growing demand for design talent and encouraging students to explore careers in furniture design.
The visit continued at BSL Furniture Sdn. Bhd., where Vice President Mr. Nick Wee personally led a guided tour of the factory. Students gained firsthand exposure to the entire production process—from design and material selection to manufacturing, while also learning about market trends and future growth directions. This visit also opened doors for potential collaboration on industry competitions, offering students more opportunities to gain real-world experience.
This industrial visit not only broadened students’ knowledge of the furniture industry but also laid a strong foundation for future internships, collaborative projects, and design competitions.
A heartfelt thank you to Muar Furniture Association and BSL Furniture Sdn. Bhd. for the warm hospitality and valuable insights. We look forward to more collaborations ahead—injecting fresh, creative energy into Malaysia’s furniture design industry!
南方大学学院工业设计系考察麻坡家具业，探索产学合作新契机 2025年8月28日，南方大学学院艺术与设计学院工业设计系师生一行45人，拜访麻坡家具同业商会及宝顺利家具有限公司.，展开一场深具意义的产业考察与交流之旅。
此次活动由5位工业设计系讲师带队，包括艺术与设计学院院长、副院长、系主任、课程协调员及高级讲师，共同带领40位工业设计系学生深入了解麻坡家具产业的发展脉络与未来方向。
在麻坡家具同业商会的交流环节中，商会会长黄友欢、署理会长黄宗佑、两位副会长黄运陇和方纯亨及理事蔡开臣热情接待，并与我系师生展开深度对话。商会代表不仅详细分享了家具业的现况与挑战，也指出当前产业对设计人才的强烈需求，鼓励学生勇敢投入家具设计领域。
在随后对宝顺利家具厂的参访中，商会副会长黄运陇亲自带领团队进行导览，讲解从设计、选材到生产的整个流程，并分析了家具市场的趋势与未来发展方向。这次参访也促成了工业设计系与数个业界比赛的初步合作洽谈，为学生打开更多实践与发展的平台。
此次考察活动，不仅加深了学生对家具产业的了解，也为未来的产学合作、实习机会、设计比赛等方面奠定了良好基础。
感谢麻坡家具同业商会及宝顺利家具有限公司的热情接待与宝贵分享。我们期待未来更多交流与合作，为本地家具产业注入新世代的设计能量！
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