UCAM targets to be full university by 2020
PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia Agroscience University College (UCAM) has set a target of becoming a full university in 2020, said Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
He said that the university college was striving to meet the criteria, including increasing the number of lecturers and the programs offered before it could achieve the status.
"This effort is important because UCAM is the only private higher education institution which provides higher education programs in the field of agricultural training specifically for students from rural areas," he said at a press conference after the 14th convocation ceremony of UCAM at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre here on Thursday.
In this connection, he said efforts would also be made to strengthen UCAM as an agriculture-based educational centre with emphasis on research and development activities through smart partnerships with the industrial sector, especially to introduce new agriculture development technology.
Meanwhile, Ismail Sabri suggested UCAM graduates make entrepreneurship as their career choice.
"We do not want the students of UCAM to have the impression that jobs are made available for them or by the government after graduation.
"Through the professional education, UCAM graduates actually have a great opportunity to explore the agricultural and farming industry, and go on to become brilliant entrepreneurs, especially in the agro-food sector," he said.
As a learning institution which focuses on teaching in the agriculture and plantation fields, the minister called on the graduates of UCAM to seize the vast opportunities provided by the agriculture and agro-food industry.
Also present at the first convocation ceremony after UCAM was upgraded to a university college from RISDA College on December 8, 2014, were Deputy Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Ahmad Jazlan Yaakub, Rubber Industry Smallholders Development Authority (RISDA) chairman Datuk Zahidi Zainul Abidin and UCAM vicechancellor Datuk Dr Faridah Hanam Mohd Rashid.
A total of 800 students received their diploma and certificate at the ceremony.
Ismail Sabri added as the country imported RM39 billion worth of food a year, students should use their knowledge to seize the big and wide business opportunity in the food sector.
With its advantage of being an agriculture-based higher education institution, he said UCAM could act as a catalyst to explore the field and help the agricultural entrepreneurs and plantation operators.
"Through strategic program and model business, I believe UCAM can be a catalyst for the ministry to increase the income of villagers, and involve 30 per cent of the rural population in entrepreneurial activities in 2020," he said.
Currently UCAM is offering bachelor's degree in agriculture, farming, accounting and landscape management as well as 25 diploma and certificate programs.
UCAM has also established cooperation, including through a memorandum of understanding with universities and professional international bodies like Royal Agriculture University, UK, Kasertsart University, Thailand and Green World Genetics.
Meanwhile, four graduates received awards at the graduation ceremony. They include the best overall gradudate, Muhammad Faizi Abd Kadir who received the KKLW Minister Award; best academic graduate, Farzana Mohammad Yong (RISDA Chairman Award) and best cocurriculum gradudate, Nurul Nazirah Mohamad (RISDA Director General Award).