CREATIVE: Khaled trying his hands at decorating a cupcake at one of the booths set up by a community college while Fadillah (right) and Amir (second left) look on. – Photo by Kong Jun Liung
KUCHING: All the regional corridor development authorities, including Regional Corridor Development Authority (Recoda), can make full use of community colleges as an important ‘instrument’ in producing highly skilled human capital.
Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, who made this suggestion yesterday, said this was important to produce sufficient human capital required by the industries, particularly in Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE).
“I hope the regional development authorities such as Recoda as the development authority of SCORE will make community colleges as an instrument to produce human capital that is very important to regional development.
“Besides that, community colleges can benefit youths in Sarawak who do not have the opportunity to further their studies in institutions of higher learning,” he said in a press conference after officiating at the state-level Community College Empowerment and Lifelong Learning Carnival at Borneo Convention Centre here.
Also present during the launching were Deputy Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Fadillah Yusof, Assistant Minister of Industrial Estate Development Datuk Peter Nansian Ngusie, chief secretary to the Ministry of Higher Education Datuk Ab Rahim Md Nor and director-general of Community College Studies Department Amir Md Noor.
Khaled noted that among the fields of specialisation required by SCORE would be oil and gas, construction, telecommunication as well as hospitality and tourism.
He stated that the success of the government’s planning would depend on the availability of human capital in the country, adding that the government would not be able to achieve the targets set if the country lacks highly knowledgeable and skilled workers.
As part of the empowerment process, he suggested that all community colleges in the state cooperate through strategic cooperation with Recoda with emphasis given to targeted thrust areas.
Apart from Recoda, nine other industry players who are in strategic collaboration with community colleges in the state are Malaysia Offshore Contractor Association (Moca), Brooke Dockyard & Engineering Works Corporation, Coral Alliance Sdn Bhd, TWI Training & Certification (S.E. Asia) Sdn Bhd (Sarawak), SATT College, Dormani Hotel, Antaratek Sdn Bhd, Pertubuhan Arkitek Malaysia Sarawak Chapter and PKL Wong Architect.
Earlier, Khaled said all the 84 community colleges in the country played a very important role in developing human capital much needed for the success of the five regional development corridors namely Iskandar Malaysia, Eastern Coast Economic Region (ECER), Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER), Sabah Development Corridor (SDC) and Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE).
“As of the end of last year, a total of 850 community college students had been absorbed to work in regional development corridors; 400 in Iskandar Malaysia, 150 in ECER, 150 in NCER, 100 in SDC
and 50 in Sarawak,” he highlighted.
Khaled said graduates of community colleges throughout the country were recognised as competent human capital especially in oil and gas, automotive, tourism and food industries.
After the establishment of the first community college that offers various programmes to the disabled, he said the government had extended the programmes to five community colleges in the country.
“We want to show that we recognise the disabled and we are confident that if properly trained, they can have bright future. We believe that if we empower them with training, they can be independent and have a good life,” he said.