UniKL opens door to vocational and technical schools

Kuala Lumpur (17 June, 2019): Great news for students studying in Vocational Colleges and SMK Teknik around the country. The door is now open wider for students from these institutions to pursue a tertiary education in Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL).

The Ministry of Education, through its Vocational and Technical School Division, has thrown a lifeline to students in realising their aspiration of earning a university degree following collaboration with UniKL, the leading entrepreneurial university in Malaysia.

The collaboration was signed at the Universiti Kuala Lumpur Chancellery. The President and Chief Executive Officer of UniKL, Prof. Dato’ Dr. Mazliham Mohd Su’ud, penned the collaboration on behalf of the university while En. Zainuren Haji Mohd Nor, the Director of Vocational and Technical Schools, led the delegation from the Education Ministry.

Students from vocational and technical schools will now be eligible to apply for enrolment into UniKL with a Diploma Vokasional Malaysia (DVM).

However, they will need to fulfil several requirements set by the university. Students must possess Sijil Vokasional Malaysia (SVM) with a minimum CGPA of 2.0 in academic and CGPA of 2.67 in vocational. Credit in the Sijil Pelajaraan Malaysia Bahasa Malaysia Paper 1104 is compulsory and a pass in history.

For those keen in pursuing a degree in any of the engineering technology programmes, they must pass the Malaysian English University Test (MUET) apart from satisfying all the above criteria.

In his welcoming address, Prof. Dato’ Dr. Mazliham said UniKL is honoured to embrace this collaboration and provide a platform that will benefit students from vocational colleges and technical schools on a whole.

“Since 2017, UniKL have received 137 students from Vocational and SM Teknik in pursuing foundation, diploma and degree programmes. Being a Higher Technical and Vocational Education and Training (HTVET) university, we understand the predicament faced by students from these institutions as they do not have an avenue to pursue a degree programme after completing their diploma.,” said Prof. Dato’ Dr Mazliham.

“Hence, UniKL is delighted to work closely with the Ministry of Education in ensuring students are given the opportunity to explore their skills for a degree,’ he added.

For the record, in 2017 UniKL received one student for enrolment for an undergraduate programme at the UniKL Malaysian Institute of Marine Engineering (MIMET) in Lumut, Perak, 23 students in diploma courses and six in various foundation programmes.

However, in 2018, the numbers increased to 107 students with 49 of them pursuing degree programmes, 44 diploma and 14 in foundation.

The collaboration between UniKL and the Vocational and Technical Schools Division of the Education Ministry, added Prof. Dato’ Dr. Mazliham, touched on six key areas namely:

• Creating a platform for students from Vocational Colleges and SM Teknik in pursuing foundation, diploma and degree programmes in UniKL.
• Creating an avenue for lecturers from the Division of Vocational and Technical Schools in enhancing their skills in UniKL designated institutions.
• Ensuring Skills Training for students from Vocational Colleges and SMK Teknik at various UniKL institutions.
• Providing a platform for officials from the Education Ministry and lecturers from Vocational Colleges and SMK Teknik in pursuing a post graduate degree programme in UniKL.
• Providing education and skills training programmes and
• Creating Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities that involve students and lecturers from Vocational Schools and SMK Teknik.

Meanwhile, Zainuren disclosed that more than 400,000 students sit for the SPM examination annually and of this an estimated 50 percent gain entry into private and government linked colleges and universities to pursue foundation and diploma course.

“The remaining students who did not excel in their examinations have no avenues to further their studies and this is a concern to the Ministry of Education. This collaboration with UniKL opens the door for Vocational and SMK Teknik students who desire to further their studies, hands-on training and skills by enrolling into UniKL.

“The ministry is thankful to UniKL for creating this platform. It is a welcoming news for Vocational and SMK Teknik students and I hope they will take his opportunity to enhance and develop their skills and experience,” he added.