Abdul Aziz (centre) presents a diploma to BTEC HND Electrical/Electronic Engineering graduate Larry Laing Bit while Norashikin looks on.
MIRI: A total of 330 graduates from Sarawak Skills Development Centre (PPKS) and the International College of Advanced Technology Sarawak (i-CATS) Miri branch were honoured at its 8th convocation here yesterday.
The convocation was graced by PPKS management board chairman Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr Abdul Aziz Dato Husain.
Abdul Aziz said transforming Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) was on the agenda of the 11th Malaysia Plan (11MP) – its three strategies showing government commitment in upholding the TVET sector in Malaysia.
“The first strategy is strengthening the governance of TVET for better management by establishing a national qualifications framework to harmonise rating systems for public and private TVET institutions.
“The second strategy is to improve the quality and delivery of TVET in increasing the employability of graduates through approaches such as empowering industry to lead development of the curriculum, eliminating duplication of programmes and resources, improve cost-effectiveness, and expand TVET financing to increase enrolment,” he said.
The third strategy is branding improvement to attract interest in TVET, these strategies to be achieved through promotional activities to highlight TVET as an attractive career.
A breakdown of the graduates from i-CATS showed 24 graduates from the Graduate Skills Enhancement Programme (Insep) – Certificate in Health and Safety Officer, 26 graduated with Certificate of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, nine with BTEC Higher National Diploma (HND) in Electrical Engineering / Electronics and 19 graduated as Vocational Training Officers.
The Malaysian Skills Certificate (SKM) in Graphic Design went to 12 graduates, Electrical Installation & Maintenance – Single Phase (13), Computer System Technician (32), Office Administration Supervision (41), Troubleshooting, Restoration and Maintenance of Electronic Equipment (16), Senior Technician in Automation (25), Industrial Automation Engineering Supervision and Operations (14) and Oil Palm Plantation Operation and Supervision (71).
Thirteen students graduated with Malaysian Skills Diploma (DKM) in Electronic Product Development, and 15 as Mechatronics Technical Assistants.
Eighteen graduates received the PPKS / i-CATS 2016 Best Student Awards, namely Liza Engkok of BTEC HND Electrical / Electronic Engineering, Joshua Paren Joseph and Darien Janting Frankie from Certificate of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Nur Shameena Muhammad Hairul and Zul Shafiq Moksin from Graphic Design, and Alvin Terry Masing from Electrical Installation and Maintenance-Single Phase.
Mohammad Izzan Zahin Salleh and Affiq D’zuqqir Mohamed Tomasi were best students from Computer Systems Technicians course, Jasmeen Douglas Abang and Suzyta Manggi from Office Administration Supervision, Ryan Punai from Troubleshooting, Restoration, Maintenance of Electronic Equipment, and Mackenzie Apeng from Electronic Product Development.
Stanly Eddy and Jesseca Parang from Senior Technician Automation, Immanlendez Jose Tan from Industrial Automation Engineering Supervisory course and Jeffson Laing, Vicky Sami and Kenneth Michel Jembai were best students from Oil Palm Plantation Operation and Supervision.
The convocation also saw certificates received by the first group of 13 graduates from Electrical Installation and Maintenance – Single Phase who started their first session in January 2015.
The event was attended by PPKS executive deputy director (Corporate Services) Norashikin Dahlan representing executive director Hallman Sabri, i-CATS CEO Mohd Fauzi Isham, PPKS Miri campus director John Rizal Biki and PPKS Savti campus director Mohamad Asri Abdul Salam.