KKDW TO STRENGTHEN HI-TVET PROGRAMME WITH HIGH-IMPACT INITIATIVES - AHMAD ZAHID

MELAKA, Sept 27 (Bernama) -- The Ministry of Rural and Regional Development (KKDW) remains committed to strengthening the High-Level Technical and Vocational Education and Training (Hi-TVET) Programme by introducing various high-impact initiatives, says Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Ahmad Zahid, who is also the Minister of Rural and Regional Development, said this included selecting Melaka as a Hi-TVET hub at Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM) through programmes focused on artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and robotics.

“This programme has become the main choice for departments and faculties at the institution and is also aligned with four other universities, including UniKL, to meet workforce demands driven by Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).

“At the same time, Composites Technology Research Malaysia Sdn Bhd (CTRM) here also offers opportunities in the aerospace field, with placements not only at CTRM but also in collaboration with Airbus and Boeing to send Hi-TVET aerospace graduates abroad, including to the United States and Europe,” he told reporters after officiating the ‘TVET@KKDW 2024 Educational Institutions Expo: Empowering the National TVET Agenda’ at the Melaka International Trade Centre (MITC) in Ayer Keroh today.

Ahmad Zahid, who is also the chairman of the National TVET Council Committee, said Hi-TVET would also focus on the fields of shipping, maritime, railways, and Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) for aircraft, given the high demand for these sectors.

He added that Malaysia’s open investment climate encouraged investors to invest in the country, supported by the facilities available and the skilled workforce produced by 1,345 TVET institutions nationwide in fields that met their needs.

A total of 16 Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) involving 17 strategic industry partners were exchanged in conjunction with the TVET@KKDW 2024 Expo.

These collaborations cover key areas within TVET under KKDW educational institutions, including the automotive industry, aerospace composites industry, Industry 4.0, electric vehicles, cybersecurity, digital technology, and diving training.

The three-day expo, which began today, aims to attract more than 300,000 participants, including 200,000 in hybrid format, and features six zones with various content. It also offers 2,000 job opportunities with 20 employers through open interviews under MyFutureJobs.

-- BERNAMA