Len signs the plaque. He is flanked by UCTS marketing and corporate senior manager Lu Yew King (left) and UCTS vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Abdul Hakim Juri.
KUCHING: University College of Technology Sarawak (UCTS) in Sibu opened a marketing office here yesterday.
The office offers course counselling for parents, students, Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) school leavers and graduates.
Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Office (Promotion of Technical Education) Datu Len Talif Salleh said students have the freedom to choose the courses they are interested in at UCTS instead of accepting courses that are not their first choice elsewhere.
“Students should take up courses that they like and are interested in instead of what their parents like, or what is offered to them as UCTS may have what they want,” he said at the opening.
He pointed out that UCTS has managed to attract 1,500 students even though it has only been operating for two years.
Len said the number of technical and engineering graduates in the state cannot fulfil manpower requirements, particularly for the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE), which needs 600,000 skilled and semi-skilled workers.
“SCORE is not only for Sarawakians but also all Malaysians, but the state’s responsibility is to ensure that jobs are filled by Sarawakians — priority to Sarawak-born people,” he said.
He also highlighted the various foundations offering education funding such as the Sarawak Bumiputera Economic Trust Fund (Tegas) and Bakun Foundation.
Len called on Sarawakians to utilise the educational opportunities offered by UCTS, which is fully owned by the state government, as a certificate qualification is no longer sufficient.
UCTS offers foundation courses in Science and Arts; while the School of Business and Management offers business administration and accountancy; School of Built Environment offers architecture (LAM part 1) and quantity surveying; School of Computing offers network computing and software engineering; School of Engineering and Technology offers electrical and electronics, civil engineering, mechanical engineering, food technology and electrical engineering (power); and School of Postgraduate Studies offers the Master of Engineering (by research).
The intakes are in February, April and September.