KUCHING: It was a momentous occasion for 93 students of Institut Pertanian Sarawak who received their scrolls at the institute’s 16th Convocation Ceremony 2019/2021 today.
Agriculture Department director Dr Alvin Chai Lian Kuet congratulated the graduates who completed their studies despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Graduates must work hard to ensure the knowledge they have obtained from the past two years at the Institut Pertanian Sarawak can be put into practice. This will enable them to contribute to the local community, state, and the country,” he said in his speech at the convocation ceremony at RAIA Hotel and Convention Centre here.
Chai said an allocation of RM10 million under the 12th Malaysia Plan was channelled to the Agriculture Department for the institute to organise agricultural education programmes with a conducive learning environment.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industries (MAFI) has also approved RM2.25 million to upgrade the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) training facilities as well as to provide safe and conducive support facilities to produce competent and competitive graduates.
“Efforts are also undertaken to enhance Institute Pertanian Sarawak as a prestigious accredited centre in producing human capital in line with the aspiration to intensify the agricultural sector by using smart technology to increase productivity and strengthen the level of national food security,” he said.
Chai noted that the institute was successfully accredited by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA) last year which further enhanced the quality and reputation of the institute’s education programmes,” he said.
Institut Pertanian Sarawak has so far produced 1,754 graduates.
