Marketability of local graduates up by 4% in 4 years, says Higher Education Minister

Between the years of 2014 and 2017, the marketability of students graduating from local higher education institutions has gone up by 4%, highlights Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh, Malaysia’s Higher Education Minister during the launch ceremony of the Trans Resources Corporation (TRC) Edu Centre at Politeknik Ungku Omar, on 20 February 2018.

In accordance with Education in Malaysia under Vision 2020, it’s no surprise that employability amongst local graduates continues to rise annually, with Idris Jusoh elaborating that, “The marketability of graduates has increased in four years with 75.1 per cent in 2014, going up by 1 per cent each year to 76.1 per cent (2015), 77.3 per cent (2016) and 79.1 per cent last year.”

(photo courtesy: MalaysiaKini)

He credits the newly introduced ‘Two Universities + Two Industries’ (2u2i) initiative, which aids students in developing practical skills by interning within their respective industries for a duration of two years, as a part of their degree and hence increasing their marketability.

Also present at the launch ceremony were former prime minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badari – a member of TRC’s board of directors – Higher Education Deputy Minister Datk Mary Yap Kain Ching, Department of Polytechnic Education and Community Colleges director-general, Prof Datuk Mohd Ismail Abd Aziz and TRC group managing director Tan Sri Sufri Mohd Zin.

An industry-academic centre made in conjunction between Politeknik Ungku Omar, Department of Polytechnic Education and Community Colleges, TRC Edu Centre aims to enroll 30 polytechnic students per year and employ them with practical skills as well as a permanent position. This is in keeping with the ministry’s ‘Industry and Academia are one’ mission statement.

Hoping to gain marketability the likes of this? Check out where you can study locally, here!

(As reported by Bernama)