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SIBU: University College of Technology Sarawak (UCTS) is mainstreaming the technical vocational education and training (TVET) by recognising holders of TVET qualifications to further their studies at degree level and higher.
Its deputy vice-chancellor (Academic) Professor Dato Dr Sabarudin Mohd said the move was in tandem with the state government’s call to increase TVET enrolment to meet the country and state’s need for more skilled workers by 2030.
“We recognise the need for skill-based graduates in various engineering technology fields such as mechanical, manufacturing, electrical and electronics,” Sabarudin said when met yesterday.
Based on a research conducted by University Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) in 2010 on the scenario of manpower demand by 2030, a total of 1.3 million new jobs would be created in Sarawak.
The jobs included professional, semi-professional, support staff and general workers, where about 667,000 jobs or 50 per cent were targeted for Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE) alone.
Recently, Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem said Sarawak would require a three-fold increase in enrolment for TVET in order to meet the country’s need for skilled workers by 2030.
“There should definitely be more awareness programme on TVET at both primary and secondary school level to prepare students towards this path,” Sabarudin said.
He said this was necessary as TVET was perceived as second educational or training stream after the traditional academic stream.
The entry qualification requirements are lower than that for the traditional academic education, he said.
“As such, TVET is viewed as a training ground for those not qualified to enter the traditional academic education.
“This is probably the main reason people with the qualification choose the traditional academic stream over the TVET stream.”
Asked to compare student enrolment with developed countries such as Germany, South Korean and England, he said it was not so much about student enrolment.
He said it was more of the ratio between professional and total population of the country.
“For example, engineer to population ratio in Japan is 1:40, Germany 1:80, Canada 1:120, UK 1:140; Malaysia 1:280.
“Our target is one engineer for every 100 population (1:100).”
He added that TVET required good and adequate training facilities, especially the engineering laboratories.
This was perhaps, one of the issues facing private institutions.
These institutions especially those run by government agencies such as Ministry of Human Resources and Ministry of Youth and Sports are adequately furnished with the required labs and training centres, he said.
Towards this end, Sabarudin said UCTS had just started with the Bachelor of Electrical Engineering (Power).
He said the degree programme was specifically offered at UCTS to meet the demand of electrical power engineers in Sarawak.
“Under the SCORE development, at least two more HEP stations will be built to realise the state’s mission to become a regional source of power.
“This will attract energy intensive industry to set up their production line in Sarawak. I believe this programme will be among the popular programmes to the people in Sarawak because it is industry-driven and career focus programme,” he said.
It is reckoned that the need for civil engineers, quantity surveyors and architects would be high because of infrastructure development within SCORE, in particular.
Sabarudin said the heavy industries in Samalaju would require large number of mechanical, manufacturing, electrical and electronic engineers.
IT and ICT facilities are the essential facilities to ensure this development is keeping abreast with the technological development.
“To support this we need managers, administrators, economists and entrepreneurs.
These are the other areas UCTS is focusing on besides electrical power and food technology.
“We are currently developing Bachelor of Manufacturing and Material Engineering which are expected to commence in September next year,” Sabarudin said.