Abdul Aziz (left) handing over a certificate to a graduate. – Photos by Jeffery Mostapa
KUCHING: A total of 819 diploma and certificate students from Sarawak Skills Development Centre (PPKS) and International College of Advanced Technology Sarawak (i-CATS) received their scrolls during a graduation ceremony at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) yesterday.
Twenty-nine graduates were also presented with various industrial awards as recognition for their academic and vocational achievements and to encourage them to explore the technical and vocational market.
The awards were given by Sarawak Information Systems Sdn Bhd (Sains), Sarawak Energy Berhad, Sarawak Timber Industry Development Corporation, Brooke Dockyard and Engineering Sdn Bhd, Toko Electronic (Sarawak) Sdn Bhd, KKB Engineering Berhad, Trac-Wheels Sdn Bhd, Samling Group of Companies and Normah Medical Specialist Centre.
Meanwhile, i-CATS is offering two degree courses in collaboration with Infrastructure University of Kuala Lumpur beginning this year.
The two courses are Bachelor of Business Administration (Hons) in E-Commerce and Bachelor of Software Engineering (Hons).
PPKS executive director Hallman Sabri said they have opened training centres at various locations to fulfil the state’s demand for a skilled workforce.
These centres include PPKS/i-CATS Miri, PPKS Mukah, Sarawak Electrical Industry Training Institute, PPKS Sarawak Agriculture Vocational Training Institute, Automotive and Welding Institute of Sarawak, PPKS Production Sdn Bhd, Prestige Path Sdn Bhd, Kolej Vokasional Swasta PPKS Ilmu Sdn Bhd and PPKS Kenyalang Holdings Sdn Bhd.
Hallman pointed out that apart from the newly introduced degree programmes, PPKS/i-CATS also offered locally developed diploma programmes like Diploma in Culinary Arts and Diploma in Hotel Management.
PT3 school leavers can also choose to enrol in a fast-track Diploma in Electrical Engineering programme which can be completed in four years and three months and includes on-the-job training.
Also present at the graduation ceremony was PPKS chairman Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr Abdul Aziz Husain who is also i-CATS president.
He said: “These graduates are well-educated and trained to be the manpower which will contribute to developing the state.
“More skilled workers will be trained to fulfil the demand of the market in 2030, especially for Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy.”
He said the training centre in Mukah which is currently under construction is expected to be completed in 2018 and can accommodate about 1,000 students.
PPKS has also opened a new centre called Agritech Skills Sabah in Tawau which started operations in July this year and offers certificate programmes in agriculture and information technology.