Polytechnic M’sia to produce more employable graduates

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JUBILANT: Students and lecturers of Polytechnic Kuching Sarawak show their happiness after the convocation ceremony.

KUCHING: Polytechnic Malaysia is in its second phase of transformation programme, pursuant to the Institutes of Higher Learning Strategic Plan (PSPTN), to enhance the employability of its graduates and change the perception that it is the second choice for education.

Making the transition from ‘Quick Wins and Institutional’ in 2011 to ‘Enhancement’ this year, Department of Polytechnic Education director general Major (K) Nor Yusof believes that the programme is instrumental for them to produce 165,000 graduates annually to reach the mark of 1.65 million workers needed in the technical and vocational fields by 2020.

According to Nor, among the objectives of the transformation plan, are continuous development of co-curriculum subjects, developing and producing good educators, producing quality students, building proper facilities while instilling the desire for innovation.

“Since 2011, polytechnics in the country have gone through a rating called PolyRate which includes elements such as employability and generic students attribute,” said Nor during the second day of the 20th Polytechnic Kuching Sarawak convocation yesterday.

He also said Polytechnic Malaysia recorded the highest score of 82.8 per cent in terms of employers’ satisfaction while the marketability of polytechnic students had exceeded 72 per cent.

“This reflects our success in producing competent workforce through exams, evaluations, structure and co-curriculum developments which hit the 70 per cent mark in the PolyRate 2011,” added Nor.

As part of their hefty programme, Nor also said the department was projecting to come up with 18 strategic
plans to cooperate with several major industry players this year.

“Among the sectors that we are looking into are tourism, hospitality, engineering, fabrication and talent management,” he said. By taking a holistic, pro-active and innovative approach, Nor opined that the move would act as a two-pronged strategy to propel the learning institutions as well as the nation’s industrial sector to new heights.

On another note, Nor urged graduates to grab opportunities in Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE), which is projected to provide 700,000 jobs in the technical and vocational fields.

Meanwhile, Nor also said last year polytechnic lecturers and students managed to come up with 40 products, exceeding the department’s initial target of 20 products or research results for the year.

He also said out of the 40 products, 11 were currently waiting to receive patent rights.

Also speaking at the convocation was Polytechnic Kuching Sarawak director Clara Ong Guat Leng, who said all the 1,133 graduates who
received their scrolls were from the Dec 2010 semester (598 graduates), June 2011 semester (460) and May 2011 short course (75).

The first day of the convocation on Monday was graced by Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Office (Promotion of Technical Education) Datu Len Talif Salleh.