KUCHING: Sarawak Skills Development Centre (Sarawak Skills) is aiming to produce more future-proof graduates by 2030 to help Sarawak achieve developed and high-income status by 2030.
Chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Husain said Sarawak Skills and its group of learning institutions such as International College of Advanced Technology Sarawak (i-CATS) University College played a role in developing human resources to catalyse the economic transformation of Sarawak into the era of Industry Revolution 4.0 and digital economy.
“We need to have a multi-pronged approach to pass on skills to the new generation.
“With that, we will introduce and update the curriculum for the application of Industry Revolution 4.0, Green Technology and Renewable Energy to remain relevant to the students and in the industry,” he said during the Sarawak Skills/i-CATS 23rd convocation and the official launching of i-CATS University College on Monday (March 8).
He said Sarawak Skills also hoped that the state government would continue to support its aspiration of becoming a leader in technical education.
“We will always work closely with the government and the industries, especially the members of Sarawak Skills, which consists of 69 companies from various industries, to ensure that our graduates meet the needs of employers and contribute effectively to the development of the country.”
Abdul Aziz said to ensure the relevancy of Sarawak Skills, its management had set five strategic milestones from 2021 to 2025.
“This will include the offer of industry-given and future-oriented educational and training programmes, enhancement of organisational capabilities, development of state-of-the-art learning facilities, strengthening research and development as well as alumni involvement and engagement.”
He added, with i-CATS being elevated to a university college status, more courses in line with the needs of the industry would be offered from Master’s degree to Master of Philosophy level, at the same time, emphasis on research and development (R&D) would also be given priority.
“This university college will also increase strategic partnerships with the best industry and institutions of higher learning to enhance their skills and competencies, especially exposure to the use of the latest technology.”
Meanwhile, the ceremony saw 742 completing their studies. Of the total, 327 were recipients of the Malaysian Skills Certificate (SKM), Malaysian Skills Diploma (DKM) (119), Malaysian Advanced Skills Diploma (five), Electrical and Electronic Engineering Certificate (seven), while 259 were diploma and 25 bachelor’s degree holders in various courses.
Other awards such as Industry Awards, i-CATS President Awards, TVET Industry Award, and Sarawak Skills Human Capital Award 2020 were handed out to excellent students.
Due to the pandemic, instead of one convocation session, numerous ones would be held.
During Monday’s convocation, most observed the ceremony live on social media platforms.
Separate graduation ceremonies would be held for graduates in Miri from March 22 to 24, and for Mukah, March 29 to 30.
