{
  "id": 13365868,
  "title": "Malaysia’s life sciences graduates need more attention",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/10/malaysias-life-sciences-graduates-need-more-attention-13365868",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-10T07:50:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/opinion/2026/10/10/malaysia-s-life-sciences-graduates-need-more-attention"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Malaysia's leaders are discussing the nation's potential as a high-income, knowledge-based economy. Topics under conversation include artificial intelligence, digitalisation, advanced manufacturing and future job opportunities. However, another group of young Malaysians deserves more focus: life sciences graduates. The assertion that Malaysia lacks life sciences graduates often puzzles the author, a biotechnology graduate. Despite Malaysia having universities offering various life sciences programmes, graduates frequently encounter difficulties in finding jobs directly related to their degrees. The question arises: are we truly short on life sciences graduates, or do we lack life sciences jobs? Both Malaysia and the industry need to address this issue. While Malaysia has invested in biotechnology and the bioeconomy for several years, the pathways from university to the workforce remain unclear. The world is increasingly recognizing biology's central role in addressing challenges like food security, climate change, and medical advancements. The issue lies in whether Malaysia is creating sufficient opportunities for its trained graduates. Many graduates remain in academia, compete for limited research positions, continue studying, or take unrelated jobs. The industry should not expect graduates to solely remain in laboratories or abandon the field. The modern life sciences sector requires professionals with scientific knowledge and the ability to work across disciplines. Careers in regulatory affairs, biosafety, science communication, intellectual property, technology transfer, clinical research, agricultural policy, food systems, environmental management, business development, and science and technology governance exist. However, these roles often remain unseen by students. Malaysia must shift its focus from merely producing graduates to building a life sciences workforce. Better data on graduates' careers, stronger university-industry partnerships, internships, industry-linked curricula, and clearer research-to-employment pathways are necessary. Crucially, Malaysia must create and attract companies and institutions that offer meaningful careers for these talented individuals. Research should flow from laboratories to the broader ecosystem, including innovation, regulation, investment, commercialisation, and societal benefits. Life sciences graduates should be integral to this journey. Malaysia has made significant investments in its scientific and biotechnology capabilities. The country should ensure that its graduates remain central to the ecosystem rather than becoming an afterthought. As the future of work evolves, graduates need interdisciplinary skills, digital literacy, and the capacity to navigate science, technology, policy, and society. However, an equally important requirement is an economy that provides a role for their expertise. Malaysia cannot simply ask its young people to acquire future skills without building an economy that values those skills.",
  "summary": "Many discover after graduation that finding a job directly related to their degree is not straightforward.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Malaysia’s life sciences graduates need more attention",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/10/malaysias-life-sciences-graduates-need-more-attention",
        "published": "2026-10-10T07:50:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}