WITH 97.3 PCT EMPLOYABILITY RATE, UNITEN PRODUCES QUALITY GRADUATES

PUTRAJAYA, Nov 16 (Bernama) -- The employability rate of graduates from Universiti Tenaga Nasional (UNITEN) stood  at 97.3 per cent in 2023, thus maintaining the university's status as a leading institution for energy-related studies and research both nationally and internationally.

UNITEN's vice-chancellor, Prof Dr Khairul Salleh Mohamed Sahari, said that the university had also been awarded the 'Employers' Choice Award 2024' by Talentbank in the fields of civil, electrical, and mechanical engineering, further proving its reputation as an institution that produces a high-quality workforce.

"The employability rate in 2022 was 96.8 per cent and it increased to 97.3 per cent in 2023. Indeed, our graduates are highly sought after in the job market," he told Bernama after the 26th UNITEN convocation ceremony today.

He also said that UNITEN is committed to producing graduates who excel not only in academic fields but also possess excellent character, by encouraging students to deepen their religious knowledge through certification in Tahfiz al-Quran.

"The winner of the Chancellor’s Gold Award is a student enrolled in the Tahfiz programme; we strive to balance our students with knowledge of both the worldly and the spiritual," he said.

He added that UNITEN is expected to offer a Bachelor's degree programme in Artificial Intelligence (AI) next year as part of its initiative to respond to the government's call to develop local talent in the field.

"We are responding to the government's call to increase the number of talents in the AI field, and UNITEN is currently in the process of seeking approval for this programme.

"God willing, once we receive the approval, we will begin advertising it. However, for now, even with our existing programmes, we have already offered AI courses," he said.

The convocation ceremony, officiated by the Yang Dipertua of Penang, Tun Ahmad Fuzi Abdul Razak, who is also the UNITEN chancellor, will see 1,412 graduates receiving their degrees and diplomas during the two-day session, which began today.

At the ceremony, Pt Bayan Resources president director, TBK Datuk Dr Low Tuck Kwong was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Business Management for his significant contributions to the business world and his commitment to educational development.

The Chancellor's Gold Award was presented to Muhammad Hasif Zikry Mohd Ridzwan, a student of the Bachelor of Science in Computer Science (Software Engineering) (Honours) programme, who is also a Huffaz student at UNITEN.

-- BERNAMA