The ink on your degree scroll has barely dried, your convocation photos are still fresh on social media, and yet the people around you have already begun asking, "So what is next?"

For many young graduates, this question is not merely casual small talk; it is a serious concern. It reflects a genuine problem.

The job market is becoming more competitive, technology is evolving rapidly, and many graduates are still searching for a clear direction. The reality is that having a degree alone no longer guarantees employment.

According to the Department of Statistics Malaysia, the unemployment rate among graduates was approximately 3.2 per cent in 2024. Many have yet to secure stable jobs even months after completing their studies.

More worrying, a significant number end up working below their qualification level or in fields unrelated to their academic background. This indicates that the job market is evolving more rapidly than the education system and the readiness of some graduates.

Future proof graduates

To address this challenge, the Ministry of Higher Education (MoHE) introduced the concept of "Future Proof Graduates" through its "Framing Malaysian Higher Education 4.0: Future Proof Talents" initiative.

This complements the goals of the Malaysia Education Blueprint for Higher Education 2015-2025, which emphasises the need to produce graduates who are resilient, creative, and ready to face a constantly changing job landscape.

These efforts were further strengthened with the launch of the Experiential Learning and Competency-Based Education Landscape (EXCEL) framework in 2021. EXCEL aims to produce holistic and highly skilled graduates through authentic and experiential learning in industry, community, research, and personalised learning.

The framework was introduced to ensure that graduates remain agile, employable, and competitive in an increasingly unpredictable world of work.

However, producing future-proof graduates is not the sole responsibility of universities or the government. Despite the initiatives introduced by the MoHE, the efforts of universities to redesign programmes, and the support offered by industry, the most significant determining factor still lies with the students themselves.

Decline in students' interest

In recent days, lecturers across universities have observed a significant decline in students' interest in reading, engagement in class, and sustained focus. Reading habits are fading, attention spans are shrinking, and distractions from devices and social media are increasingly common.

Even though lecturers have diversified their teaching methods to include project-based learning, simulations, experiential tasks, and digital learning, the outcome remains limited if students themselves are not motivated to learn.

Educators can provide the best resources, the industry can offer valuable opportunities, and the government can introduce progressive policies. Still, if students are not ready to embrace these opportunities, all these efforts can only go so far.

The willingness to learn, the discipline to read, and the curiosity to deepen knowledge in one's field are the fundamental qualities that separate successful graduates from those who merely wait for opportunities.

Lifelong learning

Future-proof graduates are not defined solely by excellent grades. They are individuals who think creatively and critically, seize opportunities, and continuously strive to improve themselves.

In the age of artificial intelligence (AI) and automation, career paths are no longer confined to one's academic discipline. An engineering graduate may become a technology strategist, a finance graduate may thrive in communications, and a business graduate may become an entrepreneur. Flexibility and a commitment to lifelong learning are now the actual keys to success.

Graduation is not the end of learning; it is merely a milestone on the path to lifelong learning. It is the beginning of your professional journey. The degree you hold represents what you achieved yesterday.

Your future will be defined by how you choose to grow from this moment on. In an increasingly competitive and uncertain world, only graduates who equip themselves today will rise and thrive in the years ahead.

To all Malaysian graduates, the future is not waiting for you. It has already arrived. The world now demands graduates who are not only impressive on paper but who can stand firm, adapt quickly, and succeed in a reality that is constantly changing.

-- BERNAMA

Dr Siti Zanariah Haji Yusoff is an Exco Member for Digital Innovation and Discourse at the Malaysian Association of Communication Educators (MACE), and the Head of the Centre for Modern Languages and Communication, Faculty of Languages and Communication, Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA), Kuala Nerus, Terengganu.