Courses with low job scope to be axed
Published on: Monday, May 12, 2025
Published on: Mon, May 12, 2025 Text Size: Jobs that are at risk of automation include models, secretaries, auditors, cashiers, travel agents, data entry clerks, telemarketers, factory workers, bank tellers, and postal clerks, according to TalentCorp website. - FMT pic for illustration only. Kota Kinabalu: Higher Education Deputy Minister Datuk Mustapha Sakmud said his Ministry is considering scrapping university courses with low employability rates or those no longer align with industry needs. Citing research by TalentCorp, he said at least 260 job roles in Malaysia are expected to disappear due to technological advancements. Mustapha said any university course with a graduate employability rate below 30 per cent will be reviewed and possibly restructured to make it more relevant and competitive. 'This is part of our long-term plan to ensure higher education keeps pace with technological change and market demands,' he said during the launch of the 'Jom Masuk U' programme at Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), here. Jobs that are at risk of automation include models, secretaries, auditors, cashiers, travel agents, data entry clerks, telemarketers, factory workers, bank tellers, and postal clerks, according to TalentCorp website. Mustapha also expressed concern over the low interest in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) fields, with national participation at just 22percent, and Sabah even lower at 12.6percent. He said the trend happened because lack of early exposure and awareness among students and parents. 'Many students choose easier courses over those needed by the industry,' he said, stressed the importance of introducing STEM early to build lasting interest and strengthen the country's talent in key sectors. To tackle these issues, Mustapha said a joint committee has been formed, involving the Higher Education Ministry, the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (Mosti), and the Education Ministry. Their goal is to develop strategies to revive STEM education and align academic courses with future job market needs. Also present at the event was UMS Vice-Chancellor Professor Datuk Dr Kasim Mansor.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
11 hours ago
- The Sun
MOHE mapping varsities' strengths to boost food security agenda
SERDANG: The Higher Education Ministry (MOHE) is in the process of identifying the strengths of each university to be strategically mobilised in advancing the national agenda on agriculture and food security. Deputy Minister Datuk Mustapha Sakmud said the involvement of academicians and institutions of higher learning is crucial to ensure the agenda is achieved in a sustainable manner. 'That is why we strongly encourage networking among universities so we can pool all available expertise to collectively explore how to address food security challenges at reasonable costs,' he said after officiating the closing ceremony of the National Food Security Conference 2025 at Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) here today. The two-day conference, which began yesterday, was organised by UPM in collaboration with MOHE and the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry to discuss the direction of national agricultural and food security policies. The event brought together policymakers, academicians, non-governmental organisations, entrepreneurs, students and industry players in an open forum featuring keynote addresses, plenary sessions, research presentations and panel discussions. Earlier in his speech, Mustapha stressed that a collaborative approach involving various stakeholders, including the government, industry players and farmers, is crucial for the country to address its food security challenges. 'One of the key challenges facing the nation is ensuring our food security. Therefore, the effort to get everyone thinking about this is vital to tackle this issue,' he said. Meanwhile, UPM vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Ahmad Farhan Mohd Sadullah said the UPM-led Food Security Nexus currently involves 20 public universities and seven private universities. 'We've held several workshops and outlined several actions we aim to pursue, with the hope that high-impact research can be utilised by both the government and industry,' he said. He added that UPM plans to broaden cooperation under Nexus to include Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions and polytechnics. 'The use of technology is vital to transform farming communities. High-level technology is typically housed within universities, but when it comes to implementation, we need the involvement of TVET and polytechnic institutions,' he said.
The Sun
11 hours ago
- The Sun
MOHE mobilises universities for food security agenda
SERDANG: The Higher Education Ministry (MOHE) is in the process of identifying the strengths of each university to be strategically mobilised in advancing the national agenda on agriculture and food security. Deputy Minister Datuk Mustapha Sakmud said the involvement of academicians and institutions of higher learning is crucial to ensure the agenda is achieved in a sustainable manner. 'That is why we strongly encourage networking among universities so we can pool all available expertise to collectively explore how to address food security challenges at reasonable costs,' he said after officiating the closing ceremony of the National Food Security Conference 2025 at Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) here today. The two-day conference, which began yesterday, was organised by UPM in collaboration with MOHE and the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry to discuss the direction of national agricultural and food security policies. The event brought together policymakers, academicians, non-governmental organisations, entrepreneurs, students and industry players in an open forum featuring keynote addresses, plenary sessions, research presentations and panel discussions. Earlier in his speech, Mustapha stressed that a collaborative approach involving various stakeholders, including the government, industry players and farmers, is crucial for the country to address its food security challenges. 'One of the key challenges facing the nation is ensuring our food security. Therefore, the effort to get everyone thinking about this is vital to tackle this issue,' he said. Meanwhile, UPM vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Ahmad Farhan Mohd Sadullah said the UPM-led Food Security Nexus currently involves 20 public universities and seven private universities. 'We've held several workshops and outlined several actions we aim to pursue, with the hope that high-impact research can be utilised by both the government and industry,' he said. He added that UPM plans to broaden cooperation under Nexus to include Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions and polytechnics. 'The use of technology is vital to transform farming communities. High-level technology is typically housed within universities, but when it comes to implementation, we need the involvement of TVET and polytechnic institutions,' he said.
Borneo Post
17 hours ago
- Borneo Post
Malaysia, China urged to build distinctive, competitive higher education system amid global shifts
Prof Yue Haiyang (fifth right), Frankie Liew (fourth right) with the USST delegates and SCCC members. KOTA KINABALU (June 11): Malaysia, China and Southeast Asian countries must work together to build a higher education system that possesses its own characteristics and international competitiveness, said Sabah China Chamber of Commerce (SCCC) president Datuk Frankie Liew. He said this system should cultivate future talents with a global outlook, rooted in their own culture and wisdom, to lead regional development. 'We must build our own educational confidence and cultural strength,' he emphasized during a recent dialogue with vice president of the University of Shanghai for Science and Technology (USST), Professor Yue Haiyang. Liew noted that the recent incident in the United States, where Harvard University revoked the visas of some international students, has sparked global concern about the freedom and inclusiveness of American education. This situation has made China and Southeast Asian countries realize more deeply that only by improving the quality of their own higher education and establishing independent academic systems and education brands can they ensure sustainable talent development. He believes that in the current global transformation of higher education — triggered by the US's increasing exclusion of international students — strengthening educational cooperation between Malaysia and China holds significant strategic importance. During a recent visit to Sabah, Prof Yue paid a special visit to the SCCC and held cordial and in-depth discussions with Liew and its members on the development of international education cooperation. Recently, USST and Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) officially signed two memorandums of understanding (MOUs) to launch a short-term student exchange program between their respective business schools. Each university will select 50 students to participate in short-term academic programs at the partner institution. It is noted that USST had already begun initial exchanges last year, sending students to Sabah to experience the local academic and living environment, laying a strong foundation for this collaboration. Liew praised the cooperation between USST and UMS, noting that it would enhance academic exchanges and the sharing of research achievements in business and related fields. It will also deepen and broaden inter-university collaboration, and help raise the academic reputation and visibility of UMS on the international stage. He warmly welcomed USST's decision to partner with UMS. 'Sabah not only has a multicultural society, beautiful natural ecology, and a stable and safe social environment, but also increasingly developed higher education infrastructure and an internationalization strategy, making it an ideal platform for international education cooperation.' He believes that this partnership will help improve the quality of education and research at both universities and promote the development of Sabah's international education industry. According to statistics, the global education and training market is currently valued at around USD 7.5 trillion, and it is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 6% to reach approximately USD 10 trillion by 2027. It is expected to continue to grow steadily over the next decade. 'Education is no longer just about cultivating talent — it has become an essential part of national strength and economic development,' Liew noted. He also expressed hope that USST and UMS will continue to expand their collaboration to include joint research, education and training programs, and the commercialization of research outcomes. Together, they can explore new areas and markets in higher education cooperation.
