MTUN seals MoU with JPPKK empowers national TVET

BANGI, 2 June 2022 - In an effort to promote the country’s technical education, a strategic relationship and collaboration was sealed between the Department of Polytechnic Education and Community Colleges (JPPKK) and the Malaysian Technical University Network (MTUN) involving four universities, namely Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP), Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP), Universiti Tun Hussein Onn (UTHM) and Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM).

The programme saw the Minister of Higher Education, Datuk Seri Dr. Noraini Ahmad, at the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) Signing Ceremony between JPPKK and MTUN held at Hotel Tenera Bangi.

Also present were the Secretary General, Ministry of Higher Education (MoHE), Dato’ Seri Abdul Razak Jaafar, Director General of the Department of Higher Education, Professor Dato’ Dr. Husaini Omar and Director General of the Department of Polytechnic Education and Community Colleges, Ts. Zainab Ahmad.

The university was represented by the Vice-Chancellor of Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP) who is also the Chairman of the Malaysian Technical University Network (MTUN), Professor Ts. Dr. Zaliman Sauli.

Also present were the UMP Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dato’ Ts. Dr. Yuserrie Zainuddin, Vice-Chancellor of Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM), Professor Ts. Dr. Massila Kamalrudin and Vice-Chancellor, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM), Professor Ts. Dr. Ruzairi Abdul Rahim.

According to Datuk Seri Dr. Noraini, a higher education institution under MoHE is the largest contributor of graduates in the field of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in the country.

“MTUN focuses on the success of the country’s higher education agenda by offering approximately 461 programmes at the diploma, bachelor’s degree, master’s and PhD levels covering engineering, technical and higher technology.

“This strategic collaboration between MTUN and JPPKK will provide an opportunity for students to enjoy a more comprehensive learning experience through the courses offered by both MTUN and JPPKK institutions thus increasing the intake of polytechnic graduates to MTUN.

“In addition, this collaboration can be a catalyst to maintain the sustainability of the TVET field in the future while ensuring the continuity of the academic pathway of polytechnic students and community colleges after they graduate to the highest level,” she said.

Meanwhile, Datuk Seri Dr. Noraini also suggested that the MTUN Centre of Excellent (COE) and the Polytechnic Centre of Technology (COT) unite efforts to intensify collaboration activities, expertise services as well as research and innovation in line with the ministry’s aspiration to communitise TVET.

According to Professor Dato’ Ts. Dr. Yuserrie, this MoU will greatly benefit MTUN and all public TVET provider institutions that will play a vital role in producing TVET graduates through the provision of educational programmes, pre-employment training, and reskilling and upskilling programmes.

“UMP also offers technical-based academic programmes with industry-led curricula that meet the country’s main needs.

“To date, UMP offers 15 Bachelor of Engineering Technology programmes, six Bachelor of Technology programmes and five Diploma in Engineering/Engineering Technology programmes.

“Currently, the success of TVET programmes has been proven by the achievement of the graduate employability of TVET graduates which has always exceeded 90 per cent since 2006,” he said.

He added that the graduate employment rate of TVET graduates also increased to 93.7 per cent compared to 91.4 per cent in 2021.

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