Students visiting the TVET Education and Uniformed Bodies Career Expo in Petaling Jaya. — Photo: AZLINA ABDULLAH/The Star
HIGHLY skilled workers are in demand as foreign businesses invest in Selangor, says Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari.
He said industries depend more than ever on hiring Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) graduates.
Electrical and electronics, biotechnology, aerospace and rail industries were among the manufacturing sectors in the state that required a highly skilled workforce, he added.
“Graduates of TVET courses stand a great chance of landing a job as their skills are required to support operations requiring automation and technological transformation,” he said after launching the TVET Education and Uniformed Bodies Career Expo at the Civic Centre in Petaling Jaya.
The TVET Expo was organised by Sentosa assemblyman Gunaraj George alongside non-governmental organisations Persatuan Sejahtera Sentosa Selangor, Persatuan Jaya Diri Negri Johor, Malaysian Indian Youth Council Selangor, Persatuan Veteran India Angkatan Tentera Malaysia, Hindu Youth Organisation of Port Klang (HYO-Port Klang) and the Educational, Welfare and Research Foundation Malaysia.
The two-day event was supported by Menteri Besar Incorporated and the Selangor government, while the venue was made available by Petaling Jaya City Council.
According to Amirudin, there are plans to improve the state’s TVET ecosystem to ensure school-leavers are trained and equipped with skilled knowledge.
“Selangor is making efforts to improve our TVET ecosystem to ensure we encourage good students to embrace high-skill training courses that will see them offered high-paying jobs.
“We want the TVET courses to be designed in collaboration with local industries, so they can be tailored to meet the specific needs of the job market.”
He also said the state had plans to upgrade Universiti Selangor (UniSel) into a technical and vocational university as well as develop the modules of the programmes offered by the Selangor Technical Skills Development Centre (STDC) at Section 7, Shah Alam, to match the demands of the industries.
Gunaraj said he was overwhelmed that on the first day, an estimated 1,300 students from 15 schools had turned up with their school councillors and parents to visit the booths in the expo.
“Our aim is to open their minds on what TVET courses are available, so that they can have a clear plan for their future careers,” he added.
At the expo, industry leaders and personnel from the police, Fire and Rescue Department, and armed forces gave the students an insight into their respective fields.
The staff on hand also spoke to the students on the qualifications needed, job scopes and salary range offered.
Among the visitors was SMK Setia Alam student Putri Arissa Umaira Ismail, 17, who said her interest was in the field of online business and she visited the expo to get more information on courses at polytechnics.
SMK Batu Unjur, Klang student Yong Yi Zhe, 17, said the expo was informative.
He wanted to find out about automotive engineering.
“Most of the polytechnic representatives were professional with their explanations and information. I got a lot of details I needed,” he said while clutching several brochures.
