UMPSA empowers technical programmes strengthens TVET Education ecosystem – Vice-Chancellor

GAMBANG, 29 October 2024 - The Vice-Chancellor of Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA), Professor Dato’ Ts. Dr. Yuserrie Zainuddin said, as UMPSA marks it 22nd anniversary, it continues to progress towards excellence and glory in line with its vision to become the best technological university.

“As one of the technical universities, the main agenda of UMPSA is to empower the technical programmes offered, especially those based on engineering and technology, to strengthen the high-level Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) ecosystem in Malaysia in line with the New Industrial Master Plan 2023 to produce graduates who are comprehensive, relevant to industrial needs and competitive at the national and global levels.

“To realise this desire, UMPSA also strengthens the implementation of work-based learning and lifelong learning.

“The flexible education programme is designed to enable students from various backgrounds and ages to continue to improve their knowledge and skills so that they are always relevant to the development of technology and the needs of today’s industry,” he said.

He said that UMPSA also recorded great achievements in the aspect of graduate employability.

“UMPSA achieved a graduate employability rate of 97.3% in 2023, one of the highest in Malaysia and this proves that UMPSA graduates are the main choice of employers.

“To date, UMPSA has produced 48,376 alumni, consisting of 47,297 local alumni and 1,079 international alumni serving around the world.

“In terms of ratings, UMPSA continues to excel in the QS World University Rankings 2025 when it is ranked 741-750 in the world, the best among the Malaysian Technical University Network (MTUN) and reaches 601-800 in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings (THEWUR) and 201-300 in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings (THEIR),” he said.

In fact, he said, the excellence in UMPSA research was also encouraging when 20 researchers were listed in the World's Top 2% Scientist by Elsevier BV and Stanford University.

“I would also like to share that two lecturers from the Faculty of Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technology (FTKEE) have been successfully listed in the World's Top 2% Scientist list.

“In addition, I would like to congratulate the team of FTKEE lecturers who have won the title of the Immersive Learning (Virtual) Category in the Special Award of the Minister of Higher Education: Curriculum Design and Innovative Delivery (AKRI) recently.

“This remarkable achievement not only reinforces our faculty’s position as a leader in research and innovation but also reinforces UMPSA’s commitment to world-class academic and research excellence.

“This includes supporting inclusive education so that this university becomes the main choice of destination to continue higher education,” he said.

Professor Dato’ Ts. Dr. Yuserrie hoped that all graduands would become individuals who firmly hold human values, ethics and integrity.

“Remember, real success is measured through meaningful contributions to the community and the country.

“We are now in an era of VUCA or volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous - a challenging era that requires courage, dexterity and wisdom.

“Therefore, I call on all graduands to remain humble, steadfast in maintaining integrity and never tire of enriching themselves with new knowledge and skills.

“Today’s world demands not only technical expertise and mental intelligence but also high moral values, a great soul and a firm commitment to serve for the common good.

“Graduates today are agents of change and leaders of tomorrow; therefore, be sensitive and proactive leaders who take responsibility in building an inclusive, harmonious and fair society.

“Whoever you are, even if you are an engineer, scientist, technologist, educator or influencer, be a proud ambassador of UMPSA and ensure that this legacy of excellence always blooms in your every step and achievement in the future,” he said.

At the 19th UMPSA Convocation Ceremony, a total of 5,115 graduands received their degrees through six sessions, including 100 international graduands from 19 countries around the world and 1,717 graduands of lifelong learning programmes.

In the fifth session, 430 graduands from FTKEE and 629 Executive Master graduands from UMPSA Advanced received their degrees.

Meanwhile, in the sixth session, 667 Executive Bachelor graduands and 421 Professional Diploma graduands also from UMPSA Advanced received their respective degrees and diplomas.

By: Safriza Baharuddin, Centre for Corporate Communications

Translation by: Dr.  Rozaimi  Abu  Samah, Faculty of Chemical and Process Engineering Technology