AS industry evolves with the times, the demand for plumbers now goes beyond technical expertise to include management and digital skills.
Targeting this market need, VTAR Institute and the Master Plumbers Association Malaysia (MPAM) are teaming up to offer the second intake of the Plumbing Technology programme, with these focus areas incorporated into the curriculum.
As part of the collaboration, MPAM will be offering full tuition sponsorship for 25 eligible students.
VTAR Institute chief executive officer Tan Cheng Liang said Malaysian citizens aged between 18 and 30 who have completed Form Five education, with passes in English and Mathematics in the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia or equivalent qualifications, and who are physically fit, are eligible to apply for the programme.
Students who meet requirements and successfully pass an interview, she added, will be eligible to receive full tuition fee sponsorship.
MPAM president Goh Chee Seng said the successful candidates will also receive internship opportunities and post-graduation employment placement.
“Through this complete system of ‘training + internship + employment’, we aim to provide youths with a clear career pathway while also ensuring a stable talent pipeline for the industry,” he said.
On the programme curriculum, Tan said it has been expanded to introduce new training modules on supervisory skills.
“Today, the industry no longer only requires workers who can perform technical tasks. What is needed are technical professionals who are capable of independently managing projects, coordinating teams, and controlling project timelines and costs.
“Technicians who possess management capabilities will not only have opportunities to advance to site supervisor positions, but may also eventually venture into entrepreneurship,” she said in a recent press release.
She added that the programme has also strengthened its training in AutoCAD computer-aided drafting skills.
“The engineering industry has fully embraced digitalisation, and almost all planning and design work prior to construction is completed through computer-aided drawings.
“If students do not possess drafting skills, it will be difficult for them to communicate effectively with engineers, designers and contractors. It is essential for our students to acquire more comprehensive skills that align with current industry trends,” she said.
She emphasised that the institute’s goal is not merely to train technical workers, but also to develop skilled professionals who possess management capabilities and digital competencies.
Cultivating students’ attitudes and discipline is also an emphasis, with the programme including soft skills development components such as professional ethics, proper work attitudes, teamwork, and a strong sense of responsibility.
Tan noted that in industry, technical skills are important, but attitude often determines a person’s altitude.
“Punctuality, a strong sense of responsibility, teamwork, and a serious attitude towards work are often the qualities most valued by employers. We believe that students who possess good character and strong professional ethics will be able to progress further and more steadily in their careers,” she said.
She shared that the programme achieved positive outcomes in the first intake, with the first batch of students graduating last year.
“They demonstrated excellent professional attitudes, strong discipline and solid practical skills, earning recognition from industry players,” she said.
Goh said the programme is an outcome of close collaboration between industry and educational institutions.
“We aim to provide youths with a clear, stable and sustainable career pathway in skilled professions through systematic training, hands-on practice, professional certification and industry internships,” he said.
“We are not training traditional labourers; we are developing professional technicians who safeguard the nation’s water supply system,” he added.
