KUALA LUMPUR: THE government has accorded recognition to more than 70 programmes offered by Kolej Tunku Abdul Rahman (KTAR), dating back to the 1990s, in appreciation of its commitment and contribution to the nation.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said the move, which took effect immediately would involve 74 diploma and advanced diploma courses offered by the college since the middle of the 1990s at its campuses nationwide.

“This recognition means that all KTAR graduates who graduated way back in the 1990s will have their qualifications recognised by the Public Service Department.” Najib said KTAR, established in 1969, had achieved international recognition in terms of its programmes, including from the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators and Chartered Institute of Building.

He added that KTAR diploma programmes had been accepted for direct entry into Year Two and Year Three undergraduate courses in countries such as the United Kingdom, the United States, Japan and Australia.

Atthefunction,Najib also witnessed the signing of a strategic alliance agreement between Agensi Inovasi Malaysia (AIM) and 26 of the country's top public and private universities, research institutes and companies to collaborate in the setting up of a National Technology Commercialisation Office (NTCO).

In his speech, Najib said the signing of the agreements demonstrated the close collaboration between academia, industry, the government and the people. Such close ties between the groups would serve as a catalyst to the progress of the national innovation agenda.

"The seamless and intertwined relations between the four groups in what we call the Quadruple Helix Model, is needed to ensure a smooth transition in ideas and inventions to commercialisation and wealth creation," he said.

Najib added he would announce soon successful bidders who would get the right to commercialise the innovations developed by AIM.

AIM chief executive officer Mark Rozario said the NTCO would speed up the commercialisation process of intellectual properties developed by Malaysian academia.

This would lead to the creation of wealth for the country, he said.

"The office will also institute a standard operating procedure for commercialisation, enabling innovators to be more efficient and effective in realising their ideas to buy technologies at more calculated risks," he said.

Among the 26 participating universities and research institutes were Universiti Malaya, AIMST University, Construction Research Institute of Malaysia and Halal Development Corporation.

KTAR vice-principal (administration and external relations) Lim See Wah said the recognition would benefit some 100,000 graduates who had now become leaders in their respective fields and professions.