KUCHING: The Sarawak Government has not received any reports of students rejecting the Free Tertiary Education Scheme (FTES), signalling strong demand and growing confidence in the state-funded initiative.
Education, Innovation and Talent Development Minister, Datuk Seri Roland Sagah Wee Inn, said the encouraging response reflects students’ willingness to pursue higher education, particularly in technical and high-skilled fields aligned with Sarawak’s future economic plans.
Speaking to reporters after officiating the closing of the Asia Pacific Aerospace Conference and Exhibition (APACE) 2026 at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) today, he noted that the scheme continues to attract participation from students across multiple institutions.
“There are 28 students currently enrolled in aerospace engineering programmes at the Institute of Technology and Management (i-CATS) University College, one of the early institutions offering aerospace-focused studies,” he said.
He added that roughly 5,000 second- and third-year students across higher learning institutions are pursuing science- and engineering-related courses eligible for support under FTES.
“FTES is not limited only to first-year students. Those in their second and third year are also eligible, depending on the duration of their degree programmes,” he said, adding that students enrolled in four-year degree courses may receive assistance throughout their studies.
Apart from aerospace engineering, i-CATS and other institutions also offer related programmes such as science, engineering, finance, accountancy and psychology, which are considered relevant to future industry needs.
However, Sagah clarified that students who already receive scholarships are not eligible for FTES, as the state aims to prevent overlapping financial assistance.
Introduced by the Sarawak Government, FTES is a flagship education initiative aimed at reducing the financial burden on students while expanding access to quality tertiary education.
The scheme primarily covers tuition fees at selected state-owned higher education institutions, including Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus, Curtin University Malaysia, University of Technology Sarawak (UTS), ICATS University College, and i-CATS College.
FTES focuses on courses deemed critical to Sarawak’s long-term development, particularly in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), as well as other industry-relevant disciplines.
The initiative is also designed to nurture a future-ready workforce capable of supporting the state’s push into high-value sectors such as aerospace, advanced manufacturing, digital economy and green technology.
