SEPANG: Malaysian students selected to gain more exposure in technical and vocational education and training (TVET) at China’s TVET institutions are grateful for the learning opportunity.
Pavitheran Ganesan said he was elated to go to China as he did not expect to be chosen for the programme.
The 22-year-old, who is studying an automotive course in light vehicle maintenance at a TVET institution in Batu Gajah, Perak, hopes to learn more about electric vehicles (EVs) in China.
“I applied the moment I knew about it and thought it was an opportunity not to be missed,” he added.
He said he has had a love for cars since young as he was always at his grandfather’s workshop.
Pavitheran, who hails from Batu Gajah, also speaks fluent Mandarin, and hopes his language skills will help him once he lands in China.
“It is also my first time on a plane and travelling so far from home,” he added.
He was one of 200 students who were chosen for the Malaysia-China Youth TVET training (MCYTT) programme at China’s TVET institutions.
These students are from vocational colleges in Johor, Negri Sembilan, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Perak.
About half of them left for China yesterday.
Muhammad Firas Aiman, 23, said he was glad to have the unique opportunity to gain more knowledge in China.
He will be undergoing more training at Gansu Vocational and Technical College of Nonferrous Metallurgy for two weeks.
“Since I was in primary school, I had an inclination towards practical skills, and when I was presented with this opportunity, I took it immediately,” said the TVET student from Kluang, Johor.
He said the trip would also enable him to learn more about China’s working culture and lifestyle.
Another student from Perak, Tiew Chung Bin, 20, said he hopes to have a comprehensive understanding of EVs.
Hailing from Ipoh, Tiew said he has a deep interest in EVs, adding that he wishes to see the EV technologies in China.
While he was nervous about the flight to China yesterday, he looked forward to enjoying the food there.
He will be heading to the same polytechnic in Jiangxi with four of his coursemates.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who sent off the students at KLIA Terminal 1 here yesterday, expressed optimism that the quota for Malaysian students to participate in MCYTT will increase.He said in the early stages, 3,125 students were given the opportunity to gain exposure in China.
“I am grateful that after my visit to China, the Chinese government increased that number by another 2,000, bringing it to 5,125,” he said in a speech.
Ahmad Zahid, who is also the National TVET Council chairman, said the government will pay back students from this cohort who had to fund their own flight tickets.
All students, including those from previous cohorts, who had paid for their flight tickets will be able to receive reimbursement from the government, he added.
Started on Nov 9, 2023, MCYTT provides TVET training for Malaysian youth in China in various fields, such as electric vehicle technology, solar, the Internet of Things, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity.
Since its inception, 1,776 Malaysian students have had the opportunity to train in China’s TVET institutions.
