Booming railway manpower demand puts UniKL MIDI graduates in ‘strong position’

With the rapid developments of the railway industry in Malaysia, the Southeast Asian country is in dire need of more homegrown and skilled talents.

Citing research by the Department of Skills Development (DSD) and Ministry of Transport (MoT), Head of Section/Principal Specialist at Universiti Kuala Lumpur Malaysia Italy Design Institute (UniKL MIDI)’s Asia Rail Centre, Ts. Muslizam Musa said the future demand for skilled talents in the railway industry is projected to reach 25,000 by 2030; hence Malaysia brings about huge effort to fulfil that.

By that year, Malaysia envisions the industry will be a strong and sustainable business, capable of satisfying the demands of the national rail transportation; and a competitive global player that optimises the use of indigenous resources and technologies.

Muslizam said this is where UniKL Malaysia Italy Design Institute (UniKL MIDI) completes the pursuit by supplying the skilled graduates, especially following the handover of a railway coach mock-up to the institute recently.

“In the last five years, we can see the railway industry is growing. We saw the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) project is actively underway, which was followed by the resumption of MRT3 development announced by the government. The latest one is the Rapid Transit System (RTS), so I can say that the manpower requirement is demanded to smoothen the growth process of railway projects.

“With the aid of this new coach model, it will be a good advantage for our students where they can familiarise themselves with the real rail coach body. The overall structure is made up of 95% similarity that comprises the sitting arrangement and interior system,” he shared.

YB Dato Henry Sum Agong (fifth from left) in a photo session with other VIPs and industry players, in front of the railway coach model. – Team SCU TDA

The coach model comes along with complete interior components and Passenger Information Display Systems (PIDS) whereby it will be utilised for research and practice purposes.

By utilising the system, students are also able to learn about the 3D model in more detail.

As he mentioned, UniKL MIDI indirectly became the first higher learning institute in Malaysia to have thoroughgoing and proper types of railway equipment, especially for hands-on teaching and learning.

UniKL has always been stressing the hands-on approach and experiential learning elements in each of the courses offered, which moulds the graduates with strong technological knowledge, astute technical and entrepreneurial skills, as well as leadership qualities with a towering personality.

“Aided by strategic collaboration with industry players, we believe our graduates will be highly sought-after by this booming market, not only locally but internationally.

“Despite our programme concentrating on the railway system, the students learn about the varieties of engineering theories as well as practicals such as mechanical, electrical, and electronics. So they will be graduating as all-rounded engineers when completed their studies here,” he further stated.

Like the other institutes under the learning institutions network of UniKL, UniKL MIDI emphasises technical and vocational education and training (TVET) learning and the demand received from the industry is undeniable high, shared Muslizam.

To date, the Asia Rail Centre has produced around 300 students who have been employed by railway-related companies.