Latest news with #TVET-related
New Straits Times
25-05-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
MEF: Education-industry mismatch leaves graduates ill-prepared for modern workplace
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's education system is churning out graduates who are ill-prepared for the demands of the modern workplace, the Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) has warned. Its president, Datuk Syed Hussain Syed Husman, said many graduates emerged with academic credentials that do not sufficiently prepare them for the practical demands of today's job market. "MEF has expressed concern over the persistent issue of job mismatch in the labour market. The current education system produces graduates who are not aligned with industry requirements. "Many of them have academic backgrounds that are too theoretical and do not match the skills needed by employers, particularly in fast-evolving sectors such as technology, green energy and advanced manufacturing," he told the "New Straits Times". He said the system was not aligned with industry demands, leading to many young Malaysians entering the workforce without the capabilities needed to thrive. According to the recently released Gaji Cukup Makan economic report, 70 per cent of graduates are employed in semi- and low-skilled jobs, while only 30 per cent secure high-skilled roles. Syed Hussain said the country continued to produce an oversupply of graduates in fields, such as business studies and social sciences, while there was a persistent shortage in critical areas like engineering, data science, skilled trades and technical or vocational disciplines. "Underemployment — where graduates work in roles below their qualifications — reflects inefficiencies in the labour market. It also devalues higher education and contributes to low wage growth and job dissatisfaction," he said. To address this, MEF is urging institutions of higher learning to align academic programmes with real-world workplace skills, particularly in areas such as digital literacy, communication and problem-solving. He called for stronger partnerships between industry and academia to ensure courses better reflect current market demands. "We have long advocated for enhancing Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET). "It should be seen as a first-choice pathway, rather than a last resort. "Employers should also be incentivised to offer TVET-related internships and apprenticeships to connect training with employment directly," he said. Syed Hussain said MEF proposed expanding public-private training schemes, including micro-credentials and short-term certification programmes, to help unemployed or underemployed graduates upskill themselves and transition into high-demand roles. On the role of employers, Syed Hussain said the private sector must take proactive steps to bridge the skills gap and absorb more graduates into high-skilled roles. This includes offering structured on-the-job training and mentorship programmes and collaborating with government bodies, such as the Human Resource Development Corp, to design targeted upskilling initiatives. "Employers should co-develop curricula with universities and polytechnics, as well as offer meaningful internships and adopt skills-based recruitment practices that focus on competencies rather than just academic qualifications," he said. He added that MEF supported the use of artificial intelligence-powered job-matching platforms that align graduates' skills with high-skilled roles and provide clear career pathways within companies to help young employees understand their prospects for growth. Syed Hussain called on the government to expand incentives for companies that hire graduates in fields aligned with their training. "Financial incentives, such as tax breaks, subsidies and grants, will encourage businesses to hire graduates in their specialised fields. "This will reduce graduate underemployment while boosting innovation and national competitiveness," he said. He added that such measures would improve job satisfaction, wage growth and career development for youth, helping to build a stronger and more resilient workforce.
New Straits Times
28-04-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Over 17,000 TVET graduates secure jobs via MYFutureJobs this year
KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 17,335 Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) graduates secured employment through the MYFutureJobs portal between January and April 4 this year. Human Resources Minister Steven Sim said the portal recorded 99,315 TVET-related job placements last year. "From January to April 18 this year, 230,817 TVET-related vacancies have been advertised on MYFutureJobs, representing more than 51 per cent of the 445,875 total vacancies listed. "Throughout 2024, the portal had advertised 700,474 TVET-related vacancies, reflecting the high demand for skilled workers." He said this in a speech at the Mega MYFutureJobs Career Expo held in conjunction with Labour Day celebrations at Axiata Arena, Bukit Jalil. Sim said the main sectors hiring TVET graduates included manufacturing, wholesale and retail trade, motor vehicle repair, as well as transportation and storage. He added that the Human Resources Ministry is targeting to assist 49,258 TVET graduates in securing employment. This comprises those who completed their studies between 2020 and 2024. Meanwhile, the expo featured the participation of 40 employers offering over 10,000 vacancies, alongside simultaneous interview sessions conducted across 12 states with 1,379 additional vacancies available. "This career carnival brings together the entire workforce empowerment ecosystem under ministry for the first time," he said. He added that compared to last year's Labour Day event, the number of participating employers increased by 53.4 per cent to 158 companies, while the number of job opportunities rose by 21.6 per cent to 11,379 vacancies this year. He said the programme also aims to attract more youths into the labour market as highly skilled workers, supported by the Human Resources Ministry's ecosystem.
The Sun
26-04-2025
- Business
- The Sun
National TVET Council channels RM1 million to Unisel to strengthen TVET courses
BAGAN DATUK: The National Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Council has channelled RM1 million to Universiti Selangor (Unisel) to implement TVET-related courses aligned with current market demands. Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the TVET courses offered at the university also promise attractive starting salaries, contributing to an improved standard of living for TVET graduates. 'Although the government has set the minimum wage at RM1,700, insya-Allah, TVET graduates, especially those from Unisel, will be able to earn a minimum salary of RM3,000, provided their courses align with current market demands,' he said. 'As chairman of the National TVET Council, I am confident that the six institutions under the Malaysian Technical University Network (MTUN) will continue to collaborate with industry players, to ensure that the courses offered are closely aligned with market demands,' he said. He said this in his speech at the Bagan Datuk Raya Carnival, held in conjunction with the Unisel Malaysia MADANI Tour, organised in collaboration with the Bagan Datuk parliamentary office at the Bagan Datuk Waterfront, here, today. Also present were Unisel's vice president and deputy vice chancellor (Student Development and Community Engagement), Associate Professor Dr Hamdan Mohd Salleh. Earlier, Ahmad Zahid, who is also the Minister of Rural and Regional Development, officiated the Rural Transformation Initiative (INTRADE) Submodule, involving 119 Administrative and Diplomatic Officer (PTD) cadets, at the Dewan Armada Utama, Politeknik Bagan Datuk. The programme is one of the initiatives under the Postgraduate Diploma in Public Management (DPA) programme, organised by the National Institute of Public Administration (INTAN) for the 2024/2025 session. According to the Public Service Department, the programme reflects the MADANI Government's commitment to empowering the people, through rural development initiatives rooted in the values of well-being, with a focus on balancing physical and social development.
The Sun
26-04-2025
- Business
- The Sun
National TVET Council channels RM1 million to Unisel
BAGAN DATUK: The National Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Council has channelled RM1 million to Universiti Selangor (Unisel) to implement TVET-related courses aligned with current market demands. Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the TVET courses offered at the university also promise attractive starting salaries, contributing to an improved standard of living for TVET graduates. 'Although the government has set the minimum wage at RM1,700, insya-Allah, TVET graduates, especially those from Unisel, will be able to earn a minimum salary of RM3,000, provided their courses align with current market demands,' he said. 'As chairman of the National TVET Council, I am confident that the six institutions under the Malaysian Technical University Network (MTUN) will continue to collaborate with industry players, to ensure that the courses offered are closely aligned with market demands,' he said. He said this in his speech at the Bagan Datuk Raya Carnival, held in conjunction with the Unisel Malaysia MADANI Tour, organised in collaboration with the Bagan Datuk parliamentary office at the Bagan Datuk Waterfront, here, today. Also present were Unisel's vice president and deputy vice chancellor (Student Development and Community Engagement), Associate Professor Dr Hamdan Mohd Salleh. Earlier, Ahmad Zahid, who is also the Minister of Rural and Regional Development, officiated the Rural Transformation Initiative (INTRADE) Submodule, involving 119 Administrative and Diplomatic Officer (PTD) cadets, at the Dewan Armada Utama, Politeknik Bagan Datuk. The programme is one of the initiatives under the Postgraduate Diploma in Public Management (DPA) programme, organised by the National Institute of Public Administration (INTAN) for the 2024/2025 session. According to the Public Service Department, the programme reflects the MADANI Government's commitment to empowering the people, through rural development initiatives rooted in the values of well-being, with a focus on balancing physical and social development.
New Straits Times
26-04-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
National TVET council channels RM1mil to Unisel to strengthen related courses
BAGAN DATUK: The National Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Council has channelled RM1 million to Universiti Selangor (Unisel) to implement TVET-related courses aligned with current market demands. Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the TVET courses offered at the university also promise attractive starting salaries, contributing to an improved standard of living for TVET graduates. "Although the government has set the minimum wage at RM1,700, InsyaAllah, TVET graduates, especially those from Unisel, will be able to earn a minimum salary of RM3,000, provided their courses align with current market demands," he said. "As chairman of the National TVET Council, I am confident that the six institutions under the Malaysian Technical University Network (MTUN) will continue to collaborate with industry players, to ensure that the courses offered are closely aligned with market demands," he said. He said this in his speech at the Bagan Datuk Raya Carnival, held in conjunction with the Unisel Malaysia Madani Tour, organised in collaboration with the Bagan Datuk parliamentary office at the Bagan Datuk Waterfront, here, today. Also present were Unisel's vice president and deputy vice chancellor (Student Development and Community Engagement), Associate Professor Dr Hamdan Mohd Salleh. Earlier, Ahmad Zahid, who is also the Rural and Regional Development Minister, officiated the Rural Transformation Initiative (INTRADE) Submodule, involving 119 Administrative and Diplomatic Officer (PTD) cadets, at the Dewan Armada Utama, Politeknik Bagan Datuk. The programme is one of the initiatives under the Postgraduate Diploma in Public Management (DPA) programme, organised by the National Institute of Public Administration (Intan) for the 2024/2025 session. According to the Public Service Department, the programme reflects the Madani government's commitment to empowering the people, through rural development initiatives rooted in the values of well-being, with a focus on balancing physical and social development.
