UiNVEST, SSTC ink agreement to offer plantation related programs
KOTA KINABALU: UMS Investment Holdings Sdn Bhd (UiNVEST), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Universiti Malaysia Sabah, signed a cooperation agreement with Sabah College of Skills & Technology (SSTC) at a ceremony held at Kota Kinabalu Industrial Park (KKIP) here recently.
UiNVEST Group Chief Executive Officer Ramlan Awang Ali said the signed agreement was aimed at collaborating in a certificate programme of Plantation Management and Industrial Skills in Agro-Business Management.
“This cooperation agreement is seen as one of the efforts to strengthen education development and skills for the youth in Sabah in line with the State Government’s goal towards competent and competitive industry skills.
“This collaboration is also a step in promoting the involvement of young people in Sabah to have the expertise and technical knowledge working in agriculture and agro-agriculture,” he said in a statement yesterday.
According to Ramlan, the program will enhance the knowledge of trainers through learning based on work experience.
“At the same time, trainees will be trained to become professional and trained workers because the actual practice of the work environment in the industry will be exposed to them throughout the course of study.
“Both of these skills programs will involve a one-year study period at SSTC,” he continued, adding that the study was suitable for Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) students and the equivalent of the Malaysian High School Certificate (STPM).
Ramlan also provided examples of Japan, Australia and Netherlands that turned farms into a major source of income.
“Based on the achievements of these countries, it is evident that the field of agriculture is one of the areas that promises a wide range of job opportunities thus denying the perceptions of some who think that farming is secondclass work.
“Hence, I would like to call on the community, especially the younger generation to take advantage of the programs that will be offered later including those who have not received any offers from universities,” he said.
At the event, SSTC was represented by its director, Natalie Fung and Training Manager, Jennifer Michael.
Also present were UiNVEST Group General Manager, Yusak Yumboris @ Misek; head of UMS Professional Development Centre (UCPD), Mohd Hamdan Ruhimin; and head of UiNVEST Marketing and Promotion Section, Nerwani Shereen Halik.