23-05-2025
Harden: Sarawak focussed on shaping future-ready, employable workforce with industry-relevant curricula
Datuk Francis Harden – Photo by Roystein Emmor
KUCHING: The Ministry of Education, Innovation and Talent Development is committed to ensuring Sarawak's tertiary education curricula remains industry-relevant, adaptive, and future-proof, said Deputy Minister Datuk Francis Harden Hollis.
He said the Sarawak Free Tertiary Education Scheme (FTES) is playing a crucial role in shaping a skilled, future-ready workforce aligned with the state's economic ambitions under the Post Covid-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030.
'This is so graduates are employable and equipped to drive Sarawak's socioeconomic transformation,' he said when responding to Dayang Noorazah Awang Sohor (GPS-Lingga), during the question-and-answer session in the State Legislative Assembly here today.
Dayang Noorazah had asked how the state government works with industry to align FTES with Sarawak's workforce and economic development needs.
In response to a supplementary question on the ministry's programmes or platforms that link Sarawak's education system to industry demands, he cited the annual Sarawak Career and Training Fair (SCaTFair).
'It aims to provide information on education and career opportunities, enhance the employability of graduates and youth, and empower them to make decisions about their future,' he said.
He added the ministry works closely with various agencies and stakeholders to ensure graduates are aligned with current job market needs.
He said agencies such as Tabung Ekonomi Gagasan Anak Sarawak (Tegas) as well as strategic partnerships with key agencies including Social Security Organisation (Socso), Sarawak Skills, Centre of Technology Excellence Sarawak (Centexs), Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation (SDEC), Petroliam Nasional Berhad (Petrona), and Petroleum Sarawak Berhad (Petros) have been instrumental in supporting these efforts,' he said.
According to Harden, Sarawakians, regardless of location, can take part in and benefit from the state's high-tech economic growth.
'Our institutions emphasise hands-on, practical approaches that build both technical and critical thinking skills.
'Especially to the rural communities, with initiatives such as Industry Technology Outreach Programme (ITOP), Community Technology Outreach Programme (CTOP), Village Transformation Programme (VTP), and industry collaboration and mobile training units, they deliver high-value training on renewable energy, digital economy, and agro-industry directly to local areas,' he said. Francis Harden Hollis industry relevant lead
