Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP) will continue to strengthen its role as a technology university in the Malaysian Technical University Network (MTUN) to raise the country's Technical and Vocational Training and Education (TVET) empowerment agenda.
A strategic cooperation was signed between the Polytechnic Education and Community Colleges Department (JPPKK) and MTUN, which was witnessed by Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Noraini Ahmad at Hotel Tenera, Bangi recently, aimed at charting the direction of Malaysia's TVET agenda.
MTUN consists of four universities, namely UMP, Universiti Malaysia Perlis, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia and Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka.
According to UMP vice-chancellor Professor Datuk Dr Yuserrie Zainuddin, this collaboration would provide space and opportunities for students to enjoy a more comprehensive learning experience through the courses offered and increase the intake of polytechnic graduates to UMP and other universities in the network.
"This collaboration will also act as a catalyst for the sustainability of the TVET field in the future, while ensuring the continuity of the academic path of polytechnic and community college students after graduation."
UMP will also expand its cooperation with JPPKK to collaborate in research and commercialisation, in addition to the main intention for articulation with polytechnics.
"This articulation will increase the interest of polytechnic graduates to further their studies at the university and increase the number of students, especially in the field of engineering technology."
He said there were two main elements that differentiated high-level TVET, which are High Technology High Value and Malaysian Qualifications Framework level 6 and above for TVET programmes. In fact, these elements need to be applied by all MTUNs in the university curriculum.
Celebrating two decades of establishment, UMP offers a variety of engineering and technology-based technical programmes, as well as technical academic programmes with industry-led curricula that meets the country's key needs.
To date, UMP offers 15 Bachelor of Engineering Technology programmes, six Bachelor of Technology programmes and five Diploma in Engineering/Engineering Technology programmes.
He said the university also focused on applied research and industrial projects with local industries to enrich teaching and learning, as well as to promote the commercialisation of research products.
"The dual degree programmes are also growing rapidly and UMP is one of the leading universities in Asia, with more than 96 per cent of its graduates successful in getting jobs.
"In fact, UMP also has academics capable of producing high-impact research and development."
Yuserrie said UMP always added value to its academic programmes via continuous benchmarking process using world-class models.
In line with the wishes of UMP board chairman Tan Sri Dr Abdul Aziz Abdul Rahman, who emphasised digitalisation in the face of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, UMP will strengthen the digitalisation of higher education, including digital content development and expansion of Open and Distance Learning, as well as enhancing cooperation with the Commonwealth of Learning.
This emphasis is prioritised to meet the needs of the country in line with the aspirations of the Higher Education Ministry and the UMP Strategic Plan 2021-2025 themed "Technology for Society".