UniKL among TVET institutions joins forces with 18 industry leaders

Five Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions under the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development (KKDW) have formed strategic partnerships with 18 industry leaders in a bid to elevate and strengthen the TVET ecosystem.

Along with Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL), GIATMARA, Institut Kemahiran Tinggi PERDA (PERDA-TECH), as well as TVETMARA’s Institut Kemahiran MARA (IKM) and Kolej Kemahiran Tinggi MARA (KKTM) commemorated their collaboration with the respective industry partners at today’s Joint Venture Document Exchange ceremony.

The Minister of Rural and Regional Development, YAB Dato’ Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid Hamidi expressed his strong belief that such collaborative efforts were the cornerstone for the ministry and Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA) to pave the way for TVET to be at the forefront of education and career choices.

“I firmly believe that with the robust alliance between educational institutions and the industry, we can successfully drive forward initiatives aimed at empowering TVET,” remarked Dato’ Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid, who is also the Deputy Prime Minister, during his address at Universiti Kuala Lumpur Malaysian Institute of Aviation Technology (UniKL MIAT).

Also present were the Deputy Minister of KKDW, YB Datuk Hajah Rubiah Haji Wang; Secretary-General of KKDW, YBhg. Dato’ Sri Ramlan Dato’ Harun; Deputy Secretary-General (Policy) of KKDW, YBhg. Datuk Che Murad Sayang Ramjan; Deputy Secretary-General (Development) of KKDW, YBhg. Encik Mas Rizal Mohd Hilmi; Director General of MARA, YBhg. Dato’ Azhar Abdul Manaf; Deputy Director-General (Education) of MARA, YBhg. Encik Razlan Haji Samsuri; Group Chief Executive Officer of Mara Corporation Sdn Bhd, YBhg. Dato’ Julainie Mohd Salleh; and President/Chief Executive Officer of UniKL, YBhg. Datuk Dr Roziah Omar.

Due to this realisation, he added, the government places great emphasis on TVET education, recognising the industry’s demands and needs for a skilled workforce that can keep up with the fast-paced and rapidly evolving technological landscape.

In the meantime, he also commended UniKL, GIATMARA, IKM, and PERDA-TECH for providing the Huffaz programme to students, while the ministry is devising a plan to ensure the continuous improvement of this initiative.

Before his address, Dato’ Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid embarked on a comprehensive tour of UniKL MIAT’s helicopter hangars, which house a state-of-the-art teaching factory in collaboration with various maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO) and aviation companies.

Afterwards, he proceeded to the Advanced Flight Simulation Centre on campus, where he observed and received a detailed briefing on the top-notch Aircraft Type Rating Training Programme specifically designed for the Boeing 737-800 that is being conducted there.

For the record, UniKL exchanged cooperation documents with 11 different industrial players including Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), Galaxy Aerospace (M) Sdn. Bhd., Hammock Helicopter Sdn. Bhd., Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB), Hartasuma Sdn. Bhd., AT&S Austria Technologie & Systemtechnik, Pantai Hospitals, Radibems Sdn. Bhd., Boustead Naval Shipyard Sdn. Bhd., Vale Malaysia Minerals Sdn. Bhd., and Radimax Group Sdn. Bhd.

In parallel, GIATMARA has forged strategic partnerships with German Auto Garage Sdn. Bhd., Malaysia Rail Link Sdn. Bhd., and Motosikal Dan Enjin Nasional Sdn. Bhd. (MODENAS). Similarly, Perda-TECH has inked a cooperation agreement with Perodua Sales Sdn. Bhd., whereas TVETMARA has successfully collaborated with Acson Malaysia Sales & Service Sdn. Bhd., Petroliam Nasional Berhad (PETRONAS), and Hino Motors Sales (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd.

All these companies are major players in the land, maritime, and aviation technology sectors.