MIRI: Sarawak Oil Palms Bhd (SOP) hosted an academic industrial visit for 19 students and two lecturers from the Faculty of Agricultural Engineering Technology, Universiti Putra Malaysia Sarawak, offering participants direct exposure to operational realities at the Lambir Palm Oil Mill and SOP Academy.
The visit was part of the faculty’s ongoing effort to bridge academic learning with real-world industrial practice, particularly in agricultural engineering, crop processing systems, and mill-based technologies.
At the Lambir Palm Oil Mill, students were taken through the full operational workflow, beginning with the reception of fresh fruit bunches and progressing through extraction, clarification, and kernel recovery processes that produce crude palm oil and palm kernel.
SOP’s technical and operational teams provided in-depth briefings on modern milling technologies, plant safety standards, sustainability practices, and the role of process optimisation in maintaining product quality and operational efficiency.
Senior Mill Manager of Lambir Palm Oil Mill, Su Chung Liik, said the Group viewed academic engagement as a strategic investment in future industry talent.
“We welcome opportunities like this because they allow students to see how theory is translated into practice.
“Exposure to real operating environments helps them better understand the standards, discipline, and technologies that underpin efficient and sustainable palm oil processing,” he said.
The hands-on visit enabled students to contextualise classroom concepts within a live industrial setting, offering clearer insight into engineering principles applied on the ground. Interaction with SOP personnel also provided valuable perspectives on environmental compliance, operational governance, and technological innovation across the palm oil value chain.
SOP reaffirmed its commitment to supporting academic institutions and fostering closer industry-academia collaboration.
Through initiatives such as industrial visits and structured engagement programmes, the Group continues to contribute to talent development while promoting a deeper understanding of the palm oil industry among future agricultural and engineering professionals.
