Equip graduates with skills — Tangau
KOTA KINABALU: Higher learning institutions in Malaysia need to prepare their graduates to become skilled workers or individuals with ‘learning agility’ in order to cope with the Fourth Industrial Revolution (Industry 4.0).
Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau said the ability to learn, adapt, and apply in quick cycles was crucial due to the acceleration of change that was happening in Industry 4.0.
“We need to invest in nurturing the workforce of the future, in particular by developing science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) talent. It has to be talent by design and not by chance.
“Therefore it is imperative that science, technology and innovation (STI) be strengthened and mainstreamed into all sectors and at all levels of national development agendas,” he said.
Tangau said Sabahans needed to realise that STI is the driver of the new economy spurring new businesses, new jobs and drives productivity.
This collective growth is the key for emerging economies like Malaysia to make the leap to be at the next level, the developed economies, he said when officiating at the Institut Sinaran June graduation ceremony at the Ming Garden here Saturday.
However, he said this would remain just a dream “if we do not have the STI capacity to realise it.
“If we do not successfully prepare ourselves, we would not be able to tap the vast wealth that sciences, technologies and innovations of the future holds,” he said.
One of the key components towards realising this dream, he said was education, which again meant developing the much needed STEM talents. “As we head towards a rapidly growing technology-centred world, it is of no surprise that the demand for STEM in the industry of today has also increased tremendously.”
In the advent of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, he said emerging technologies and new operating systems required the development of a knowledge-based, highly skilled talent pool.
Tangau said he had often been asked if Malaysia was ready to embrace Industry 4.0 but to him a more pertinent question was: “What are we doing today to ensure Malaysia succeeds in the Fourth Industrial Revolution?
“In order to remain competitive, our industry must embrace Industry 4.0 and our talent must move to the knowledge paradigm. This calls for shaping of a new mindset and sharpening of skillsets.”
In this respect, he believed the young people of today are ready but they must be rightly facilitated to acquire the necessary knowledge, skills and experience to succeed in the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
The young people need to become job creators and not just job seekers, he said, adding that the role of higher learning institutions was crucial in shaping them for the future of learning and the future of work. As for the Institut Sinaran graduates, Tangau said their ability to break new grounds and take hold of given opportunities depended on how they would utilise the knowledge acquired during their studies at the institute.
“Your success is in your hands. Finally, I hope to see Institut Sinaran continue to produce excellent youths. It is always a pleasure to see the younger generation progress further and succeed,” he said.