Zahid pushes TVET beyond skills towards innovation, enterprise

Deputy Prime Minister Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has outlined plans to expand Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) beyond merely equipping graduates with technical skills. Zahid emphasized the need for TVET graduates to master artificial intelligence (AI), data, and digital technology, alongside honing problem-solving abilities, effective communication, and ethical decision-making. He stressed that graduates should be adept at utilizing technology responsibly within a courteous framework.

Zahid's speech at the Central Zone Polytechnic and Community College's Convocation Ceremony highlighted two additional priorities: fostering applied innovation through collaboration with industry and facilitating the commercialization of promising projects. He provided the example of a smart irrigation system, developed by students, which could be piloted with farmers to optimize water usage and enhance efficiency. To achieve this, institutions and industry must collaborate in guiding the path towards marketability.

Furthermore, Zahid underscored the importance of creating pathways for graduates to establish their own businesses. He cited Noor Azree Aiman, a graduate of Ampang Community College who founded ASZR Legacy in the mobile phone repair sector. Aziman's business grew by opening additional branches and providing employment to local youth, exemplifying the potential for TVET graduates to innovate and create opportunities.

In terms of industry engagement, Zahid proposed leveraging the network of 23,580 industry partners within the polyCC system to enhance curriculum development, industrial training, and professional certification. He stressed the need for industry collaboration from the outset to cultivate talent, expose students to cutting-edge technologies, and impart industry-standard practices.

Zahid also advocated for tailored expertise based on the distinctive strengths of individual institutions. As an illustration, he called for bolstering Sultan Nazrin Shah Maritime Polytechnic into a leading maritime TVET institution, ensuring its programs align with industry demands and international benchmarks. Additionally, he emphasized the significance of international exposure for graduates, citing the recent training experience of 55 polytechnic graduates at Liuzhou Railway Vocational Technical College in China.

Zahid envisaged expanding such global opportunities to enhance graduates' technological proficiency and international standing.