Going digital: Mohd Khaled and deputy secretary-general (policy) Datuk Dr Megat Sany Megat Ahmad Supian (far right) taking a closer look at a smart vending machine.
THE Higher Education Ministry is collaborating with the private sector to enhance students’ entrepreneurial skills and improve graduate employability through digital initiatives.
As part of a recently inked memorandum of understanding (MoU), student representative councils (MPP) will be able to earn an income through activities like selling mobile phone SIM cards and maintaining vending machines which will be installed in public institutions of higher learning (IPTA), said Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin.This, he said, is in line with the ministry’s plan to empower students by giving them autonomy and governance to operate their businesses in universities.
“The MPP can now do business and earn an income which they can use to conduct progammes for students,” he said, adding that the ministry is also working on a platform to help graduates find jobs and training with potential employers.
He was speaking at a press conference after witnessing the MoU signing ceremony between the ministry, XOX Bhd (XOX) and VMR Three Sdn Bhd (VMR3) in Putrajaya on July 31.
The MoU was to enhance the digital learning lifestyle of the MySiswa communities, specifically for IPTA nationwide.
MySiswa, a one-stop platform for IPTA students to access telecommunication, e-commerce, smart vending machine, e-wallet and loyalty programme services, is slated to kick off this month at Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM) and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM).As part of the collaboration, XOX and VMR3 will work with the ministry to enable students to perform tasks online seamlessly, cultivate its entrepreneur development programmes, offer attractive packages and conduct social responsibility programmes through Yayasan Kebajikan Siswa.
During the event, the ministry also signed an MoU with Wawasan Jaya Elite Sdn Bhd (WJESB) to explore cooperation opportunities that can be carried out to increase graduate marketability, job matching and industrial training through analytics.
