ARAU, March 14- Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP) continues to play its role in producing skilled workers in the field of Electronics and Electrical Engineering (E&E), in line with the needs of the country's high-tech industry.
Deputy Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said UniMAP, as one of the universities under the Malaysia Technical University Network (M-TUN), not only offers E&E-related programs, but also established an artificial intelligence (AI) faculty recognized by the Ministry of Higher Education (KPT).
"UniMAP is at the forefront as a TVET centre to drive the creation of 60,000 engineers needed in the market. The TVET Council has approved an allocation of RM1 million, of which RM200,000 is used to conduct courses related to electronics and electricity, while the remainder is allocated for the purchase of equipment and training," he said after a working visit to the UniMAP TVET center in Pauh Putra, here.
According to him, the allocation is aimed at ensuring that trainees obtain professional certificates, thus increasing their chances of obtaining higher salaries in both local and international companies.
Currently, UniMAP records a graduate employability rate of 98.8 percent.
Meanwhile, Ahmad Zahid, who is also the Minister of Rural and Regional Development (KKDW), said the government continues to strengthen education in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) among students of Fully Residential Schools (SBP), MARA Junior Science Colleges (MRSM) and Religious Secondary Boarding Schools as preparation for the future workforce for M-TUN.
According to him, the move is part of a strategy to produce more engineers and technical professionals, especially in the fields of electronics, artificial intelligence (AI) and semiconductors.
“UniMAP is among the universities that play an important role in this effort. I have coordinated meetings with M-TUN and M-TUN Plus to ensure the production of professional personnel in the field of engineering, where the country still needs at least 60,000 engineers in various fields,” he said.
The effort is expected to ensure that the country has sufficient skilled manpower to meet the growing demand of the industry.