Perception Towards Graduates Of Polytechnic Improving - Idris
JOHOR BAHRU, Dec 11 (Bernama) -- The negative perception of society towards polytechnic graduates is increasingly changing due to the emphasis on Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) at the institutions of learning.
Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh said polytechnics were no longer regarded as second class and, in fact, graduates of polytechnics had better marketability compared to university graduates.
"The marketability of polytechnic graduates is 87 per cent compared to 78 per cent for university graduates. In the past people did not understand and regarded polytechnics as second class institutions of learning," he said.
He said this to reporters after witnessing the signing of a Certificate of Collaboration between the Department of Polytechnic Education (JPP) and MMC Corporation Berhad (MMC), at Wisma Pelabuhan Tanjung Pelepas (PTP), here today.
JPP was represented by Polytechnic Education and Community College director-general Prof Datuk Dr Mohd Ismail Abd Aziz while MMC was represented by its Group Managing Director Datuk Seri Che Khalib Mohamad Noh.
Idris said the emphasis on TVET was indeed instilled among polytechnic students so that they had the skills and knowledge as required by the industry upon graduation.
"In this collaboration, its co-curriculum will be implemented together with industry (MMC), teaching will be delivered by industry lecturers and students will also be conducting their industrial training through the industry.
"PTP also has a talent development programme and we are not only able to develop students but also lecturers themselves through such cooperations," he said.
Meanwhile, Che Khalib said the JPP and MMC collaboration could open the opportunity for polytechnic students to undergo industrial training in MMC group of companies such as PTP, Malakoff and MMC Engineering.
Che Khalib said the MMC-Polytechnic Education Centre would be set up at Politeknik Ibrahim Sultan, near Pasir Gudang, and with the establishment of the centre, MMC would donate technical or engineering equipment for learning at the polytechnics.
--BERNAMA
