KUCHING; Sarawak Skills Development Centre (Sarawak Skills) and Borneo Empurau Farm and Resort Sdn Bhd (BEFR) have joined forces to strengthen technical and vocational education and training (TVET), skills development and industry collaboration.
The partnership was formalised through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at Sarawak Skills recently, marking a strategic step towards closer cooperation in education, training, technology, innovation and industry engagement.
The MoU was signed by Sarawak Skills executive director Hallman Sabri and BEFR founder Datuk Dr Yong Fook Heng.
Also present were Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) chairman Tan Sri Datuk Amar Abdul Aziz Husain and officials from both organisations.
Yong said the collaboration would focus on strengthening TVET, industry engagement, skills development and workforce upskilling, particularly in aquaculture, automation and related industries.
He said the partnership would also emphasise Industrial Revolution 4.0 (IR4.0) and renewable energy in line with technological developments and evolving industry needs.
“Through cooperation in IR4.0, both parties aim to promote exposure to future technologies and skills, including automation and smart systems to enhance productivity, operational efficiency and workforce readiness.
“In terms of renewable energy, the collaboration also opens opportunities to explore education, training and exposure programmes related to green technology and more efficient and sustainable energy use,” he said.
Among the key areas outlined in the MoU are industrial training, apprenticeships and work-based learning opportunities for Sarawak Skills students.
The collaboration will also provide graduates with opportunities to explore careers through recruitment activities, career fairs, interview sessions and graduate placement programmes, subject to BEFR’s workforce requirements and recruitment policies.
Yong said both parties would also organise industrial visits, career talks, technical seminars, guest lectures and mentoring programmes, while working together to develop competency-based training modules, micro-credentials and industry-oriented programmes aligned with current and future workforce needs.
He said the MoU was expected to bridge the gap between TVET training and actual industry requirements while providing a platform for knowledge sharing, talent development, technological innovation and improved graduate employability.
“BEFR also has the potential to serve as an industry exposure and practical learning platform, where TVET knowledge can be applied in aquaculture, modern agriculture, automation, IR4.0, renewable energy, hospitality and ecotourism,” he said.
Sarawak Skills provides technical and vocational education and TVET training to meet industry requirements and is a training provider accredited by the Department of Skills Development (JPK) to implement programmes leading to the Malaysian Skills Certificate (SKM).
BEFR, meanwhile, is a pioneering ecotourism company in Sarawak focusing on modern agriculture, aquaculture innovation, hospitality and sustainable business development, and is known for its premium Empurau fish farming.
Yong also shared his strategic views, highlighting that Sarawak is actively implementing the Sarawak Digital Economy Plan 2030 and requires a larger pool of highly skilled workers to support the state’s development.
He said human capital development should focus on producing highly skilled blue-collar workers capable of solving complex problems, while encouraging students to venture into entrepreneurship and create employment opportunities within their communities.
“Students need to be exposed to intensive practical training while at educational institutions so that they master skills that are truly relevant to current industry needs and can enter the workforce directly without requiring lengthy industrial training after graduation.
“Alongside Sarawak’s rapid development in hydrogen energy, solar energy, hydroelectricity, smart agriculture and data centres, expectations of today’s graduates are no longer limited to basic skills such as electrical wiring or air-conditioning maintenance,” he said.
He stressed the need for graduates to be equipped with IR4.0 skills such as robotics, mechatronics and automation systems, as well as green technology skills related to renewable energy systems and smart agriculture.
“Graduates with these skills will become the core backbone of Sarawak’s economic transformation in the future.
“The signing of this MoU is expected to mark the beginning of more joint programmes and initiatives between Sarawak Skills and BEFR, further strengthening TVET development, IR4.0 technology, green energy and human capital development in Sarawak,” he said.
The MoU took effect on the date of signing and will remain in force for five years, with its implementation to be reviewed annually by both parties.
The partnership is expected to help produce a skilled, technology-literate, innovative and competitive workforce while supporting the development of smarter and more sustainable industries in Sarawak.
