Referring to the article published by NST on 3/3/2020, our 21 public-sector universities and 38 private-sector universities produce something like 51,000 graduates a year, but nearly 60% remain unemployed one year after graduation, according to a study in 2018 conducted by the Minstry of Education Malaysia’s Graduate Tracer Study.
There are many factors contributing to this, such as mismatch of skills (most academic programs are based on theory only but not practical in the real world), poor language skills (especially English), interpersonal & communication skills etc.
So, even if you excel academically, academic route may not be the best choice except for certain professional programs like law, medicine, pharmacy etc where academic pathway is the only option.
Under the TVET route, there are hundreds of TVET/skills programs for you to choose from. You may refer to the National Occupation Skills Standards (NOSS) Registry by downloading from the site, as a guide. However, not all programs are offered by the public & private TVET/skills centres, accredited by Department of Skills Development (DSD)@Jabatan Pembangunan Kemahiran (JPK).
FOR the nation to move forward in tandem with the Fourth Industrial Revolution (IR 4.0) and beyond, there is a clear need for a well-trained technical workforce with skill sets that are present- and future-ready as well as future-resilient.
Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) programmes have always been seen as the vehicle to prepare aptly-skilled human capital but somehow the general perspective is that they fall short in terms of the level of skills and knowledge needed for the industry to forge ahead.
Graduates who have qualified from TVET institutions previously do not have a clear career pathway to further their studies and secure jobs that are highly technical in nature.
To create more career pathways and opportunities for TVET students, the Education Ministry with the Malaysian Technical University Network (MTUN) comprising four universities — Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM) , Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM) , Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP) and Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP) — and the professional body for technologists and technicians, the Malaysia Board of Technologists (MBOT), have collaborated in establishing newly developed Bachelor of Technology Degree (BTech) programmes in specific technology fields.
Some universities have introduced several of the courses last month at the beginning of the 2019/2020 academic year while other universities will make the courses available in September next year.
The curriculum is more practical and flexible to meet the challenges of the IR 4.0.
The articulation process entails matching the courses, requirements and coursework at vocational colleges with that at higher education institutions.
“KVs start enrolling students as young as 16, post PMR/PT3 examination towards Diploma Vokasional Malaysia (DVM) through Sijil Vokasional Malaysia (SVM) without SPM. That posed a problem for the graduates should they decide to pursue a Bachelor’s degree and beyond at public universities. Other than that they often face difficulty in transitioning from TVET-based education to an academic-based degree programme,” he explained.
Tan Sri Ahmad Zaidee Laidin
The entry level requirement for BTech programmes in MTUN is not based solely on SPM qualification, Ahmad Zaidee highlighted.
For DVM graduates, most of the candidates have taken the equivalency courses to SPM’s Bahasa Melayu dan Sejarah, namely Bahasa Melayu 1104 as well as Sejarah 1251. For DKM and DLKM graduates, most of the students have taken SPM which already includes Bahasa Melayu and Sejarah.
In any case this nation-building initiative is not met, MTUN has agreed the student can enrol for the courses during their tenure years of BTech studies.
“MBOT through Technicians Act 2015 (Act 768) has established the Technology & Technical Accreditation Council (TTAC). This is a Joint Technical Committee with the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA) to perform accreditation on professional technology and technical programmes. The council has published a Technology & Technical Accreditation Manual 2019 (TTAC MANUAL) for a comprehensive guideline for education providers (EP) to design and develop their programmes in the advanced technological fields,” he said.
UniMAP Academic Management Office dean Professor Dr Anuar Mat Safar said the availability of BTech programmes for DVM and DKM qualification holders is timely.
“It is estimated there are 50,000 students graduating with DVM and DKM every year. With the availability of BTech programmes, these students can obtain Bachelor’s degree-level qualifications as per required to face the challenges of IR 4.0,” he said.
Associate Professor Dr Anuar Mat Safar
DIFFERENTIATION
The main difference between BTech and conventional degree programmes is that the former were developed based on occupational requirement while the latter are more discipline-based, UTeM vice-chancellor Professor Datuk Wira Dr Raha Abdul Rahim explained.
“In conventional degree, fundamental and technological courses such as mathematics, physics etc are taught separately. In BTech programmes, the focus is for a graduate to perform a task in the work environment, hence fundamental and technological knowledge that is usually taught in different courses are embedded into a course on a particular competency set,” she said.
UTeM vice-chancellor Professor Datuk Wira Dr Raha Abdul Rahim
For example, she illustrated that a BTech Welding programme comprises a course of Welding inspection that combines elements of mathematics, physics, material studies, and local laws accordingly rather than have the subjects taken in separate courses, as with conventional programmes.
UTHM vice-chancellor Professor Datuk Dr Wahid Razzaly, meanwhile, explained that the current delivery or execution of BTech programmes uses the approach of Work Based Learning (WBL) in block released manner. This means the students undergo their studies in two phases: two and a half years at university and another year in the industry.
“The curriculum structure is towards preparing students into industry 4.0 in line with the Program Educational Objective, which is to produce technologist, technopreneur and entrepreneurship.
As such, the success ratio of higher graduate employability is ensured as the students will have a structured WBL courses in the industry itself within a year before they graduate,” he said.
He said another delivery approach via apprenticeship is still in the development progress. The idea is to have workers upgrade their qualifications by studying two days in university and working three days.
COLLABORATION
UMP Center for Academic Innovation & Competitiveness (CAIC) director Associate Professor Dr Mohd Rusllim Mohamed, who is a director of the MBOT Technology and Technical Accreditation Secretariat, observed that MoE and the Ministry of Human Resources have been working closely to ensure the programmes are running accordingly.
“So far, the government has distributed some budget for reskilling and upskilling of existing lecturers, mentoring training for industry workers, and the implementation of a newly developed concept of teaching factory — University Revaluation Teaching Factory (URTF). Here, students are involved in industry production line, thus creating valuable experiential learning even before they graduate,” he said.
He related that MoE has approached the Malaysian German Chamber of Commerce and Industries (MGCCI) to become a strategic partner to BTech’s MTUN, so that the programmes can be further improved to meet the German standards.
“With MGCCI on board, all of its over 400 companies’ partners would be willing to be part of the ministry’s TVET empowerment agenda,” he said.
To improve the quality of teaching and learning based on IR 4.0, Anuar said UniMAP is currently applying to develop a teaching plant through the URTF effort.
“This involves practical sessions of industrial design, engineering design and 3D printing at this teaching plant,” said Anuar.
UniMAP’s Faculty of Engineering Technology has also applied for TVET transfer of technology (TOT) for existing lecturers to further enhance their knowledge and skills.
“The main objective of this TOT is to obtain professional certification for lecturers at the faculty. Some laboratories are also proposed to be turned into industrial laboratories, to enable professional certificates to be issued. Training to obtain a teaching professional certificate has also been proposed as one of the TOT TVET agendas to be implemented after this provision is approved,” he said.
At UTHM, Wahid said nine memoranda of understanding and eight letters of intent with related industries have been signed.
“The University-Industry partnerships include those with Siemens, Acson, Carrier, Festo, HardRock Hotel, NIOSH, Binaan Desjaya and Proton. The approach of BTech programmes is to have 60 per cent work-based learning and 40 per cent theory,” he said.
EXPECTATIONS
Director of UTeM’s Academic Planning and Development Office Associate Professor Dr Muhammad Fahmi Miskon said with a BTech degree in hand, TVET graduates can also request for appropriate and adequate amount of salaries coherent with the skills that they own.
“It is believed that the competition for fresh graduates to get a job has gotten tougher. Hands-on skills, experience and knowledge are what employers look for today,” he said.
Other than having more students involved in skilled courses, Ahmad Zaidee said it is also very important to get the students to further their studies so that they would be more intellectually improved in many aspects.
“The graduates of these programmes are expected to be employed as soon as they graduate because the programmes are designed to fulfil the needs of the industries.
“The launch of B.Tech programmes in MTUN reflects the government’s commitment in promoting and acknowledging TVET as the driving force in the country’s development. The curriculum is more practical and flexible to meet the challenges of the IR 4.0,” he said.
As the primary professional body for TVET, he said MBOT prepares TVET graduates as technologists and technicians that are readily accepted not just in the local but also the global industry.
“We are establishing our footing in the international arena with other countries via bilateral or multilateral cooperation.
“To date, we have been accepted as provisional signatory for Seoul Accord (multilateral co-accreditation agreement for Information & Computing Technology programmes). MBOT has also taken a proactive step in proposing to pioneer the establishment of APEC Technologists and Technicians Register (ATTR) which is anticipated to be launched next year when Malaysia hosts APEC 2020,” he said.
Comment: It’s not just BTech that DVM/DKM/DLKM graduates can pursue, they can also consider EBIM (Executive Bachelor in Industrial Management), an URise bridging program by Universiti Tun Abdul Razak where Technical Leadership and Industrial Revolution 4.0 are the core learning outcomes.
Executive Bachelor in Industrial Management (EBIM), specializing in Leadership, enable skilled personnel to excel into managerial positions with enhancements in managerial core abilities. The course covers the learning in soft-skills of leadership, managerial abilities, business communication and project management.
For SKM1&2 graduates, they are also not forgotten as their pathway would be to Professional Diploma in Industrial Management.
Truly understanding TVET candidates’ situation, SPM is not a pre-requisite, yay! Another exciting part about the program is that it’s a blended learning, means it’s conducted online and face to face classroom.
For more information, kindly email to thonghiwah@urise.edu.my or whatsapp/call 012-3123430.
Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman speaks during the launch of SKIL’19 skill symposium in Putrajaya October 24, 2019. ― Picture by Shafwan Zaidon More skilled and high-paying jobs need to be created for TVET graduates, says minister
PUTRAJAYA, Oct 24 — The Youth and Sports Ministry today exchanged Statements of Understandings with five entities aimed at forging stronger cooperation between the public and private sectors in developing the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) industry.
Witnessed by Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman, the statements would see the entities play an active role in increasing career opportunities within the sector by offering spots for education and training, while offering technical advice to the ministry.
Among the signatories were Volvo Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Sapura Secured Technologies Companies, Malaysia Industry Association, the Malaysian Resources Corporation Berhad, with the cooperation of the Malaysian Prison Department.
Syed Saddiq later stressed the importance of offering former juveniles and minor crime offenders a second chance to reassimilate into society, saying one solution would be to retrain and up-skill them in opportunities within the TVET industry.
“For those who have been categorised as Individuals Under Observation, Henry Gurney leavers, we will give them a special route for them to be trained so in the end, despite them having a record, but they would be trained, re-skilled and up-skilled.
Henry Gurney Schools were set up under the Juvenile Courts Act 1947 to care for young offenders and provide formal education and rehabilitation for juvenile inmates.
“In the end they are able to be placed in companies that we share a relationship with for the TVET program,” he said after launching the SKIL 19’ Skills Symposium at the Youth and Sports Ministry Podium hall this morning.
Syed Saddiq said this and other efforts would be part of his ministry’s two pronged program, MyFuture Youth and MyFuture Youth Plus, aimed at offering reactive programs for former offenders, and proactive programs for youth who are classified within the risky category.
“For those who are in danger of falling into the group of high risk youths, we will put them through an early intervention program with special routes into TVET programmes.
“There will be long and short courses, and in the end they will be offered a job,” he explained.
He also mentioned the importance of the government’s willingness to accept former offenders into the public service, saying such steps have been brought to the attention of the Cabinet.
The Muar MP also revealed amendments to public service requirements are currently being worked out by the Chief Secretary that will see a leeway be added to consider former offenders to enter the civil service.
“This is important because if we see for those who have been jailed before, and those from Henry Gurney, about 50 to 60 per cent are youth, and a majority of them have committed minor crimes.
“But, because they don’t have targeted assistance, and if we forget or sideline them, they will go back into the community and society where their family also does not take them seriously, and not have a job, no direction in their life.
“If we (the government) are also not willing to help out, in the end they will reoffend and reenter into the same system,” he said.
Syed Saddiq stressed on the importance of breaking their cycle of crime and to offer them a second chance to assimilate back into and be a useful member of a developing society.
Additionally, the minister also added how the negative and derogatory perception towards the TVET industry should stop, and instead instil the culture of treating them as equals on par with graduates from public universities.
“If we see in Germany, the youth there are educated from a young age to understand that TVET is on par with those from public universities.
“In Malaysia, we have to instil this culture into the hearts and minds of the youth, and also the parents, as this is important to ensure that TVET will always be one of the most important growth sectors in the new Malaysia.
“But realising that dream would be impossible without the close cooperation between industry players,” he added.
1. Most of the those that took up TVET courses are because they are academically poor & have no where to go (minority do have good academic grades too) 2. TVET jobs are generally low paying, especially in the initial years. However, with recognised certification, experience & good communication + people skills, income can reach 5 figures, eg like chefs, underwater welder, piping expert (O&G industry) or operating own business like dressmaking, hairdressing & beauty salon, automotive workshops. 3. Lack of coordination between TVET institutions and industry on industrial needs also produced mismatch skills of TVET graduates, hence lower pay.
(From left) Siemens German senior director of foreign sales automation factory Sascha Maenni and Siemens senior vice president and head of digital industries Adam Yee at the Letter of Intent signing ceremony with UniMAP deputy vice-chancellor (Academic and International) Professor Dr Rezuwan Kamaruddin (second from right) and UniMAP dean, Faculty of Engineering Technology Associate Professor Dr Abu Hassan Abdullah (right).
Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) diploma holders can now pursue their studies in a new bachelor’s degree program at four universities under the Malaysian Technical University Network (MTUN).
The Bachelor of Technology (Hons) Degree in Industrial Electronic Automation was introduced at the Letter of Intent (LoI) signing ceremony between Siemens Malaysia and MTUN — Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP), Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM), Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM) and Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP) recently.
The LoI is a precursor to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that will be signed later in October.
UniMAP deputy vice-chancellor (Academic and International) Professor Dr Rezuwan Kamaruddin said that the degree program will provide a path for TVET diploma holders to gain higher academic recognition.
“This is also a platform to produce a highly competent workforce and enhance the students’ skill sets in the future,” he said.ADVERTISING
Siemens Malaysia senior vice president and head of digital industries Adam Yee said that the new degree aims to produce fresh graduates specialised in the roles of system integration.
“It is a truly one-of-a-kind industry-academia collaboration in which the graduates will not only receive their Honours degree certificates but also a professional training qualification from Siemens, which will greatly aid in employment opportunities and careers within different organisations and the industry.
“We will ensure that the resources and training provided are fully sufficient and sustainable so that the universities can do their best in the course delivery,” he said.
According to Yee, in order for the industry to support education, the cooperation with partners in the education sector is highly essential.
“The road to Industry 4.0 is only possible with digitalisation and for that, this requires quality education that is industry-adaptive and skilled human resource.
“In fact, this Bachelor’s degree course is an extension of yet another initiative from our original SITRAIN – Digital Industry Academy program, which was first launched in 2012 when we realise the need to customise training in order to address existing skills gap between the system integrator and end users.
“Being a strong supporter of TVET as a mandatory criterion in the industry infrastructure, we have also established our Siemens Innovative and Resources Training Centre (SIRTC) which encompasses several labs that have been developed for the Industrial Revolution 4.0,” he added.
The degree program will see Siemens’ Total Integrated Automation modules being taught across different disciplines as the syllabus has been co-developed between Siemens Malaysia and the universities.
UTHM deputy vice-chancellor (Academic and International) Professor Dr Ismail Abdul Rahman said that there will also be a two-way Training of Trainers to further reinforce the curriculum.
“Siemens will help to train our lecturer in terms of practical knowledge. At the same time, our lecturers will also provide trainings for Siemens in pedagogical area to ease the process of teaching and learning,” he continued.
UniMAP Faculty of Engineering Technology (Electronic Department) lecturer Ahmad Nasir Che Rosli who has been involved in jointly devising and curating this new program said this collaboration will open up opportunities for the MTUN students to undergo Industrial Attachment with Siemens partners and customers.
“The involvement of industries in developing the curriculum has been very encouraging. We will have a series of workshop and meeting be it at MTUN level or the university level itself,” he said.
Also present at the LoI signing ceremony were representatives from MTUN.
UniMAP and UTHM will be welcoming their new intake of students for this program on September 1 while UTeM and UMP will follow thereafter.
Comments: It’s not just Bachelor of Technology (Hons), TVET or SKM graduates can soon be able to further their qualifications & enable them to rise beyond just a technician, to be in the management level (manager, senior manager, director etc) with management related diploma & degree. You may explore your options here with Unirazak & express your interest by filling up the form if you’re interested to know further.
ALOR GAJAH: Those who wish to teach in the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sector may be required to obtain a licence first from the Malaysia Board of Technologies (MBOT).
MBOT is the professional body that gives professional recognition to technologists and technicians in the country.
Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM) Centre of Excellence for TVET (CoE-TVET) principal researcher Associate Prof Dr Razali Hassan said such a requirement will become a reality if MBOT agreed to recognise the Malaysia TVET Educator Standard being developed by CoE-TVET.
He said the TVET Educator Standard will be the assessment tool in evaluating and recognising competency of future TVET educators before they are allowed to teach.
“We hope to discuss with MBOT to recognise the standard.
“After that, those who want to teach TVET must meet the requirements of the standard in order to obtain the licence from the board to teach TVET subjects,” he said during a forum at the National Seminar of TVET Transformation 2018 at Dewan Canselor, Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM) here.
The one-day seminar was organised by UTeM’s Institute of Technology Management and Entrepreneurship and was opened by the university’s assistant vice-chancellor (Development and Facility Management) Prof Dr Mohd Ridzuan Nordin.
Razali said the Malaysia TVET Educator Standard has three main components, namely Personal Traits and Social Competency; Teaching and Learning Methodology Competency; and Technical Competency.
He said the development of the standard was in its final stage and will be implemented for all TVET educators once CoE-TVET received the required allocation.
Meanwhile, Prof Mohd Ridzuan, in his opening speech, said the Malaysian Technical University Network (MTUN) which consists of UTeM, Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP), UTHM and Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP) has drafted initiatives to elevate and empower the transformation agenda of the country’s TVET education.
He said one of the initiatives was the establishment of the Malaysia Research Institute for Vocational Education and Training (MyRIVET) which serves as a one-stop centre in conducting professional certificate programme training for all TVET institutions in the country.
“If South Korea is proud of the Korea Research Institute for Vocational Education and Training (KRIVET), one day Malaysia can be proud of MyRIVET’s existence,” he said.
Deputy Education Minister Teo Nie Ching said that this was part of the government’s efforts to resolve the issue of accreditation of graduates from vocational colleges, which had deterred them from pursuing their education at institutes of higher learning. NSTP/ Asyraf Hamzah
KUALA LUMPUR: The Education Ministry is collaborating with the Malaysian Technical University Network (MTUN) to facilitate entry by Malaysian Diploma Vocational (MDV) students to Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programmes.
Deputy Education Minister Teo Nie Ching said that this was part of the government’s efforts to resolve the issue of accreditation of graduates from vocational colleges, which had deterred them from pursuing their education at institutes of higher learning.
“MDV graduates can further their education to a bachelor’s degree at public institutes of higher learning (IPTA) and private institutes of higher learning (IPTS) on the account that their Malaysian Vocational Certificate is equivalent to 3 Credit Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) as set by the Malaysian Examinations Syndicate.
“At this time, the ministry and the Malaysian Technical University Network is collaborating to develop a programme to strengthen their qualifications for TVET entry, especially for students from MDV.
“MDV graduates can also get jobs in industries subject to the terms and requirements of employers,” she said in reply to a question from Nurul Izzah Anwar (PH PKR-Permatang Pauh) during Questions and Answers session at the Dewan Rakyat today.
Teo said all MDV programmes by vocational colleges need to undergo accreditation by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA) and applications for 615 programmes had been received since June 2016.
She said out of that number, around 83 percent or 510 programmes have received temporary accreditation.
Teo said 428 programmes had been accepted for full accreditation, 12 programmes had received full accreditation and 54 programmes were in the process of fulfilling the conditions to obtain full accreditation.
She added 362 programmes were being evaluated in order to meet the requirements for full accreditation, which is expected to be finished by next year.
She said student entry into vocational colleges this year was 14,243 compared to 16,728 last year. Although the number had increased in 2013 from 15,916 to 18,022 (2014), it dropped to 17,544 in 2015 and 2016 (12,875).
