Industry-academia representatives gather in Roundtable Discussion (RTD) towards high-level TVET

KUALA LUMPUR, 27 February 2023 - The holding of the academia-industry Round Table Discussion (RTD) provided an opportunity for more than 40 industry representatives to discuss the direction of the high-level TVET programmes to meet the country’s needs.

The RTD organised by the Institute of Postgraduate Studies (IPS) in collaboration with the Division of Industry & Community Collaboration (ICoN), Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP) aimed to discuss and get solutions in various aspects to succeed the national agenda in increasing graduate-level experts in the country in line with the UMP Strategic Plan 2021-2025 (PS25).

The programme was officiated by the Director of the Industry and Society Collaboration Division of the Department of Higher Education, Dato’ Mohd Sharil Abdullah.

Also present were the UMP Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dato’ Ts. Dr. Yuserrie Zainuddin and Dean of the Institute of Postgraduate Studies (IPS), Professor Datin Ts. Dr. Mimi Sakinah Abdul Munaim as the Chairman of the Academia-Industry Roundtable Discussion (RTD).

Dato’ Mohd Sharil was proud of the involvement of more than 40 industry and academic representatives from four MTUN universities namely UMP, Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM), Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM) and Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP).

“The government has also proposed that the involvement and collaboration between the private sector and government-linked companies (GLCs) be enhanced to strengthen Technical Education and Vocational Training (TVET).

“This is important to meet the needs of the industry and solve some problems such as mismatch or even training that is not relevant for the industry,” he said when officiating the programme at the Hotel Tenera Bangi.

He also hoped that such programmes would be intensified and all the information collected and outlined through today’s resolution could be put to good use, thus strengthening the role of academia, industry and ministries in empowering TVET in Malaysia.

He added that the participation of this target group would open up a space for interaction between academia and policymakers as well as industry, regarding the need to implement high level TVET postgraduate programmes in the future.

Meanwhile, Professor Dato’ Ts. Dr. Yuserrie said the agreed results of the discussions would strengthen the curriculum content and the strategy of offering high level TVET postgraduate courses.

He said the RTD programme is an important channel for various public and private agencies to discuss in producing several resolutions that can be used as a guide.

“The results of this resolution are used as a guide in the formation of future policies to align with the needs and changes in the life of the global community.

“Indirectly, this discussion will also enable the offering of postgraduate programmes centred on industry-driven curriculum,” he said.

Among the other issues discussed were the efforts and challenges of the Malaysian Technical University Network (MTUN) in realising university-industry relations, the role of industry in supporting TVET empowerment efforts and the employability of high-level TVET graduates.

He also appeared as a panel in a forum titled ‘Transformation of Malaysian Industry Through High-Level TVET’ along with two other panels, Senior Vice President, Electromobility, Yinson Holdings Berhad, Ruslin Tamsir and Industry Partnership Talent Corp Sector Head, Nazliyah Mohd Ali.

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Student Affairs & Alumni), who performs the functions of the UMP Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and International), Professor Ts. Dr. Mohd Rusllim Mohamed acted as moderator.

Also present were the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and International) of Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM), Professor Ts. Dr. Azme Khamis, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation), Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM), Professor Ts. Dr. Ghazali Omar and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and International), Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP), Professor Dr. Mohd Yusof Mashur.

By: Mimi Rabita Abdul Wahit, Corporate Communications Division, Chancellery Department

Translation by: Dr. Rozaimi Abu Samah, Engineering College/Faculty of Chemical And Process Engineering Technology