KUCHING: The state-owned i-CATS University College is planning to introduce a new engineering programme on maintenance of hydrogen systems as well as electric vehicles.
Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said currently, the university is working on the modules and syllabus and that they might need to refer to learning institutions in Germany, which are offering similar courses and programmes.
“As we are moving into a green economy, exploring and utilising various renewable energy resources, we also need to have the experts or workforce who have the relevant knowledge and skills to support the emerging industries,” he said.
“For instance, the maintenance for the electric vehicle will not be the same as (the vehicle we are using now),” he told the reporters after attending the 25th Sarawak Skills and i-CATS University College Convocation Ceremony held at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) today.
Apart from that, Abang Johari said the Sarawak government has identified a land near Kampung Trombol, Telaga Air in Matang as the site for the i-CATS University College’s new campus.
The campus, he said, will be equipped with various facilities and advanced technology, offering a wide range of academic disciplines. It will also include accommodation for the students.
“Currently, we are in the process of land acquisition, involving an area about 200 acres. Then, we will proceed to the building designs, especially for the engineering courses and programmes,” he added.
Earlier, Abang Johari said the Sarawak government will continue to increase scholarships and bursaries for students to pursue further studies at the state-owned higher learning instructions, including i-CATS University College.
He said the state government will continue to invest in education to enable more Sarawakian children to have access to acquire relevant knowledge and skills.
He believed that quality education will help to improve employability and individual earning thus reducing poverty in Sarawak. This will also support Sarawak’s aspiration to become a high income and developed state by 2030.
“As such, we are a confident the average household monthly income in Sarawak will increase to RM15,000 by 2030,” he said.
Abang Johari, who is also the Chancellor of -CATS University College also said it was necessary to focus on producing talented, innovative, skilled and knowledgeable workforce in order to stay relevant and competitive in the current dynamic job market.
“Otherwise, Sarawak will be lagging behind and failing to fulfil the demand in the knowledge-based economy,” he said.
A total of 1,009 graduates from various academic and skills programmes received their scrolls at the ceremony, comprising 483 Malaysian Skills Certificate (SKM) recipients, 149 Malaysian Skills Diploma (DKM) recipients and 32 Malaysian Skills Diploma in Recognition of Prior Experiential Learning (REL) recipients.
For academic programmes (i-CATS UC and i-CATS Miri), there were 59 graduates from degree programmes (Software Engineering and Business Administration), 206 graduates from various diploma programmes, and 13 graduates from the Certificate in Electrical and Electronic Engineering programme. About 67 graduates’ (year 2020) who were affected due to the COVID-19 pandemic also joined the ceremony.
Meanwhile, a total of 35 graduates will receive industry awards from 21 Sarawak Skills members and strategic partners.
Among those who present were Minister for Education, Innovation and Talent Development Sarawak Datuk Roland Sagah Wee Inn and his two deputies; Datuk Dr Annuar Rapa’ee and Datuk Francis Harden Hollis; Chairman of Sarawak Skills and Pro-Chancellor II, -CATS University College Tan Sri Datuk Amar Abdul Aziz Datuk Husain; Deputy Chairman I, Sarawak Skills Management Council Zulaihi Mohd Mantali, who is also the General Manager Petronas Sarawak; Sarawak Skills Management Council Secretary Datuk Maznah Dasmi; Sarawak Skills Executive Director Hallman Sabri and Vice Chancellor and i-CATS University College Professor Shahren Ahmad Zaidi Adruce.
