Higher education minister: Universities not only path to youth success

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 5 — Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir emphasized the importance of not viewing universities as the sole pathway for young people's success. He highlighted that technical skills, offered by institutions such as polytechnics and community colleges, can also lead to promising career opportunities.

Zambry pointed out that applications to enter polytechnics have surged by 132% compared to previous years, indicating a growing recognition of these institutions' value. The government is actively working to produce 60,000 engineers and is implementing various initiatives to ensure that technical and engineering fields are accessible to those who may not excel academically.

Additionally, the ministry has taken steps to train students from the arts stream in engineering-related fields through targeted intervention programs. Deputy Human Resources Minister Datuk Khairul Firdaus Akbar Khan stressed the need to address skills mismatch by ensuring more balanced infrastructure development across states to create employment opportunities and bolster talent development.