KUALA LUMPUR: Students must be guided to make informed decisions based on their interests, strengths and long-term career adaptability.
This approach, says Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL) marketing, student recruitment and admission division manager Sharadham Sapie, is key to ensuring that graduates across all pathways are equipped not just to enter the workforce but also to remain relevant in it.
“Students must first understand their own interests, as those who choose programmes aligned with their passions are more likely to excel in their studies and subsequently their careers.
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“At UniKL, our graduate employability rate currently stands at 97.5%. This reflects how well students perform and engage throughout their studies,” he said at the Star Education Fair 2026, held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) yesterday.
He added that universities must strike a balance between producing job-ready graduates and ensuring long-term employability.
“Employers today are looking for market-ready graduates who can contribute immediately without requiring extensive training.
“At the same time, long-term employability is equally important, especially as today’s generation is more dynamic and tends to move between jobs. This makes adaptability and continuous skill development crucial,” he said.
Meanwhile, Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology (TAR UMT) Faculty of Built Environment School of Architecture associate dean Dr Chang Choong Yew said the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into higher education is no longer optional but essential in preparing students for an increasingly competitive job market.
“AI is so important because nowadays, students who are not equipped with AI (knowledge) will have difficulty finding jobs in the future.
“To stay competitive in the job market, our graduates must be well-equipped with AI knowledge and skills,” he said, adding that the university has already introduced AI courses into their programmes.
“This ensures that our graduates are better prepared, with the relevant skills and competencies to enhance their employability.”
He added that TAR UMT’s architecture programme places a strong emphasis on experiential learning, which serves as a critical bridge between theory and real-world practice – an approach that is essential for producing industry-ready graduates.
“If students focus too much on theory, they lack practical knowledge.
“That is where experiential learning comes in. Students are encouraged to learn by doing.
“For instance, architecture students are trained through design studios, where they build models, produce drawings and engage in hands-on projects.
“Through this process, they develop both technical skills and critical thinking – and that is key,” he said.
Students and parents turned up in droves at the Star Education Fair 2026 yesterday.
Ema Adrianna Humaira Sulaiman, 17, and her father were among the early birds, arriving when the doors opened at 11am.
She said her father had encouraged her to attend the fair to explore opportunities for pursuing her higher education abroad.
“I noticed that there are several international exhibitors here and I’m interested to speak with them to gather more information,” she said.
Ema shared that she is planning to pursue a course in accounting, with the goal of obtaining the Association of
Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) qualification.
Another first-time visitor, Abbheejay Saravanan, 18, said he is keen on pursuing a career in journalism and is looking forward to exploring related courses at the fair.
“I initially planned to continue my studies in medicine as I was interested in biology, chemistry and physics.
“However, my heart is always set on journalism,” he said.
About the fair
Organised by Star Media Group, the two-day fair, which began yesterday and ends today, offers a variety of local and international study options, including technical and vocational education and training (TVET), as well as financial aid such as study loans and scholarships.
A total of 65 exhibitors occupy 102 booths, with RHB as the platinum sponsor.
Key exhibitors include Universiti Tenaga Nasional (Uniten), Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL), Management and Science University (MSU), Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (UTP), Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), TVET Malaysia, Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology (TAR UMT) and Universiti Poly-Tech Malaysia (UPTM).
Other participating institutions include Admal Aviation College, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR), Universiti Malaya (UM), International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Graduate School of Business (UKM-GSB), Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), University of Cyberjaya (UoC) and Gemological Institute of Malaysia.
New exhibitors include Vitus Bering Kamchatka State University, Kazan Federal University, HSE University – St Petersburg, John von Neumann University, UMatch by Crimson Education, Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Malaysia, EDUMi Sdn Bhd, Inquota Education, EduCareerMY Sdn Bhd, Stratford International Language Centre and Eluma Education.
International participants include Hong Kong Baptist University and Baden-Württemberg International (Germany).
Financial aid support is available from RHB, The Star Education Fund, MCMC Scholarship, the National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) and the Employees Provident Fund (EPF).
TAR UMT, occupying three superior booths, offers over 200 programmes from pre-university to postgraduate levels across disciplines such as accountancy, engineering and technology, built environment, computing, communication and creative industries, and social science and humanities.
Visitors can also join Register & Win sessions and attend talks by TVET Malaysia, UTP, Ulm University of Applied Sciences, HSE University –
St Petersburg, John von Neumann University and more.
The fair runs from 11am to 6pm, with free admission and door gifts for early visitors.
Now in its 39th year, Star Education Fair is one of the country’s pioneer education exhibitions. For details, visit @stareducationfair on Instagram or email edufair@thestar.com.my.
