In a rapidly evolving world where technological advancements dictate the pace, the role of education becomes paramount. Amidst this landscape, Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) emerges as a pivotal player, poised to shape a competent workforce adept in practical skills and industry exposure. In an interview with Education + TVET Asia, Deputy Minister of Higher Education, YB Datuk Ts. Mustapha Sakmud talks about TVET and the challenges in Malaysia’s higher education arena. With a fervent commitment to enhancing TVET, YB Datuk Mustapha unveils strategic plans aimed at addressing challenges and propelling Malaysia’s education sector into a future defined by innovation and excellence.
Education will remain as one of the most powerful tools in human existence. For those who missed out on the opportunity to learn and acquire knowledge, it will be impossible for them to survive in this world where everything is fast-changing and technology is developed at lightning speed. All eyes are now on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) which emphasises practical components, psychomotor skills and exposure to industry training with the aim to produce a competent workforce in specific fields. Deputy Minister of Higher Education, YB Datuk Ts. Mustapha Sakmud has always been very passionate about TVET even in his previous role as the Deputy Minister of Human Resources. He carried the same mission with him when he joined the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) late last year.
“We are a busy ministry but also a very interesting one. We operate like our own little country here and everything is under one big roof. We are at the receiving end of products from primary and secondary school. This is quite a challenge especially now as our honourable Prime Minister is setting the focus on Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM). Currently, we are seeing a decline in the number of student enrolment in STEM particularly in my home state, Sabah at 12.7 per cent which is below the national average. Even the polytechnics there are accepting non-science students for courses that require a STEM background just to fill the spots,” YB Datuk Mustapha explains.
A strategic plan is already in place to tackle the issue in Sabah in line with the New Industrial Master Plan 2030 (NIMP 2030). MOHE is committed to nurturing high-value and innovation-driven sectors such as oil and gas, speciality chemicals, aerospace, pharmaceutical and medical devices in Sabah. MOHE is also in the midst of establishing Sabah TVET Council to monitor the development of the TVET programme there. On top of that, Sabah Institute of Tourism has been established in the Kolej Komuniti Semporna along with a plan for a Reskilling and Upskilling Centre.
MOHE is committed to bringing TVET to the next level by strengthening synergy collaboration between industries with the involvement of industry leaders in the Polytechnic Industry Advisory Council as well as via development of curriculum and sharing of knowledge with industry experts. A structured internship programme has been introduced. These partnerships are crucial in providing students with practical training and ensuring that TVET programmes meet industry standards.
“Embracing technology in TVET is essential to prepare students for the digital age. We are emphasising the integration of digital tools, automation and emerging technologies into TVET curricula to equip students with relevant skills for modern workplaces. It’s important that TVET programmes across institutions are standardised through accreditation processes, assessments and evaluations to maintain high educational standards,” says YB Datuk Mustapha.
MOHE is set to conduct a preliminary study to establish the first Artificial Intelligence (AI) Polytechnic in Malaysia. This idea came about during a working visit to Japan last February. The implementation of AI in polytechnics will cover eight main areas – artificial intelligence, autonomous robots, big data analytics, cloud computing, cyber security, augmented reality, internet of things and system integration.
This project will emphasise the collaboration between industries for each programme in revising the curriculum to be embedded into the current syllabus. MOHE is committed to establishing cooperation between industries to ensure graduates can meet industry needs. “We recently launched our first AI faculty in UTM this year. It is not under UTM but a consortium of all the public universities in Malaysia. This is the starting point because our Prime Minister wants us to be on the forefront of AI in education and hopefully others will follow suit.”
The MOHE has set forth overarching aspirations that encompass the quality of graduates. These aspirations are designed to drive continuous improvement and ensure that Malaysian higher education remains competitive. The first aspiration is towards the quality of graduates. The aim is to produce graduates who are not only academically proficient but also possess the skills, competencies and attributes needed to excel in their chosen fields and give back to society.
“We want to nurture very good quality graduates as needed by the industry while addressing the unemployment and under-employment issues. There have been a lot of mismatches between the qualification and field of work that students ended up in. Degree and master’s degree holders are applying for low-ranking positions because they couldn’t find a better job. I don’t know what is happening to our students. They just wait for job openings instead of considering becoming an entrepreneur and create even more job opportunities,” shares YB Datuk Mustapha.
The Ministry is ensuring that Malaysian higher education institutions maintain high standards of excellence in teaching, research, governance and service. Higher education institutions in this country are at least 20 to 30 years old and in need of facelifts to create better learning environments for students. In terms of research and Innovation, the institutions will be promoting a vibrant research culture and promoting innovation by providing funding, infrastructure and support for cutting-edge research projects and interdisciplinary collaboration.
“R&D is crucial, especially in community colleges and other TVET institutions. Universities usually come up with some really good R&Ds. All the time and effort go to waste when the idea or invention ends up being shelved. Some of these R&Ds could possibly be the solution to problems faced by our community today. I went to Kelantan recently to visit a project by Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM). They are using reverse osmosis membrane technology to produce safe drinking water in disaster-prone areas there. This is something that can be commercialised and capitalised on. We have local talents like this who can do wonders but we need to have confidence in them,” says YB Datuk Mustapha.
The overall quality, efficiency, and effectiveness of the higher education system in Malaysia still have more room for improvement. There are 36 polytechnics and 105 community colleges under MOHE that offer TVET programmes. Even with all the spotlights on TVET, public and private universities are never neglected. “I always remind them that the Ministry needs both wings to fly high. We have the public universities on one side and the private universities on the other.”
Higher education institutions can proactively engage with industry partners to establish formal partnerships, collaboration agreements or advisory boards. These partnerships can facilitate knowledge exchange, industry insights, and opportunities for collaboration. One of the important aspects to focus on is revising the graduate’s salary. According to Khazanah Research Institute’s recent study, most graduates consistently earn low starting pay despite being employed in high-skilled or matched occupations.
“This is the main reason why our graduates choose to work abroad. Last year, 1.8 million graduates left the country for work opportunities abroad and one million of them chose to go to Singapore. The government is working towards progressive wage to combat this issue. We are no longer talking about minimum wage because it has caused a lot of problems. This is an issue even our Prime Minister is very concerned about. We are trying our best to address it,” says YB Datuk Mustapha at the close of the interview session.
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