KUCHING: Cheers of joy echoed in the Matang Vocational College Hall as 272 graduates from 10 academic programmes took to the stage to receive their Malaysian Vocational Certificate (SVM) for Cohort 2023 today.
Dr Shah Jahan Assanarkutty, Deputy Senior Director of the Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Curriculum and Programme Cluster, Department of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (BPLTV), officiated at the graduation ceremony.
He said the balance between academic knowledge and technical skills was crucial in shaping a competitive generation of youth.
“In our country, human capital should receive comprehensive learning, encompassing both academic and technical fields.
“The world is undergoing change, including the labour market, with the rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) technology, which is gradually replacing human labour,” he said.
Shah Jahan added that TVET graduates were gaining recognition in the industry because they met the current demands of the labour market.
“We want to ensure that TVET graduates remain relevant with the existence of industry-driven curricula.
“In fact, we are encouraging active involvement of industry players with vocational colleges so that the application of knowledge in real-world situations can be implemented,” he explained.
Commenting on the 1,000 Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) which were signed between vocational colleges and their industry partners, he said such proactive steps had enhanced the position of the country’s TVET education.
Shah Jahan was optimistic that this initiative would also help dispel the old stigma that skills education was merely a last resort.
Instead, TVET was now seen as a primary pathway with the potential to produce high-quality workforce.
