KUALA LUMPUR: The Higher Education Ministry (MOHE) and the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (Mida) have tied up to align the education sector with the country’s evolving industrial needs.
Investment, Trade and Industry (Miti) Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz highlighted the substantial industry demand for skilled talent, particularly in light of numerous recent investment announcements.
“To meet the rapid demands of the industry, the MoU between Mida and MOHE aims to develop human capital that possesses not only high technical skills, but also adaptive skills to cope with global economic changes,” he said during his speech at the signing ceremony here yesterday.
The agreement is part of efforts to address the skills mismatch between the workforce and industry needs, ensuring job security and higher employability for graduates.
Without a holistic solution on talent development and supply, it would be difficult to achieve a high-tech industrial ecosystem, net-zero target and economic security envisaged under the New Industrial Master Plan 2030.
Meanwhile, Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir emphasised on the importance of collaborating between ministries, stressing on the need to “connect the dots.
“Many talents are needed, with much investments spilling into Malaysia,” he said, highlighting the high demand for skilled individuals.
He called for a “whole government approach” that needs ministers to work together to bring the country forward.
He also highlighted the importance of teamwork and breaking down barriers between ministries.
“We have to work together as one government, because at the end of the day, we come from the same government and we have to serve the nation,” he said, adding that his role as a minister involves reforming the country’s education landscape to meet the needs of the nation.
The MOHE Research and Industry-Infused Incubator (MRI3) portal was launched during the event.
The portal is a collaboration of the Malaysian Electrical and Electronics Consortium comprising 19 public universities and 27 companies aimed at developing talent with knowledge and skills aligned with the needs of the electrical and electronics industry.
Through the portal, industries can advertise internship opportunities, lists of final-year project focus areas and screen potential students.
They can upload resumes and apply for jobs through this platform.
The event also witnessed the exchange of MoUs focusing on skilled workforce development between the MOHE and three companies – Micron Memory Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Stellantis Gurun (M) Sdn Bhd and Inari Technology Sdn Bhd.
