WELL-DONE: Awang Tengah (right) presenting a diploma to a graduate at the ceremony. — Photo Chimon Upon
KUCHING: Higher institutions of learning should aim to produce high quality human capital that not only meets local demand, but is globally marketable.
Second Planning and Resources Management Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hassan said the government hoped to see every student qualify to pursue higher studies and, upon graduating, become first class human resource capable of earning high income.
“Our hope is they will become the catalyst to our innovative and creative human capital which is in line with our efforts to bring our people out from poverty,” he said.
He was giving a speech at Politeknik Kuching’s 19th graduation ceremony held at the State Indoor Stadium in Petrajaya yesterday.
Among those present at the ceremony were Assistant Minister of Water Supply Sylvester Entrie, Politeknik Kuching director Abdul Rahman Khalid and other officials.
To enable society to participate in mainstream development, it was the duty of all higher learning institutions and polytechnics in particular to ensure that no single Malaysian was being left out from pursuing higher studies for as long as they are qualified, Awang Tengah said.
Locals on their part should take the opportunity for further studies and training, especially with the implementation of the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE) which will open up vast job opportunities for skilled and semi-skilled workers.
“SCORE is expected to provide 69,000 jobs at management and professional level, 337,000 jobs for semi-skilled workers, 143,000 for engineers and technicians, and 946,000 for unskilled labour.
“I sincerely hope the posts can be filled by the graduates sitting in front of me today but, before that, you must first be fully prepared in terms of knowledge, interpersonal skill, market ability and ability to overcome career challenges,” he said.
In that respect, while the Politeknik was working out its education transformation programme, its graduates should make the effort to transform themselves.
He explained that the government had been committed in supporting the education transformation programme, the evidence of this was almost RM13 billion allocated for intellectual development as well as enhancing the credibility and quality of students to improve the country’s socio-economic status.
The ceremony yesterday witnessed the graduation of 1,165 students from the January and July 2010 intakes who received their certificates and diplomas.
Of that the Civil Engineering Department accounted for 188 graduates, Electrical Engineering Department (177), Mechanical Engineering Department (256), Petrochemical Engineering Department (112), Commerce Department (301) and Information and Communication Technology Department (131).
Politeknik Kuching has produced 17,677 graduates to-date and welcomes SPM school leavers.