Vital for young generation to be competent in STEM – VC

KOTA KINABALU: It is vital for Malaysia to have and prepare its young generation to be competent in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), says Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) vice-chancellor Datuk Dr D Kamarudin D Mudin.

He said this was to ensure that Malaysia would have high-skilled human capital that could help the country's development in the future.

D Kamarudin said with the arrival of the fourth industrial revolution, the world was now witnessing a range of new technologies that are fusing the physical; digital; and biological worlds, impacting all disciplines including economies and industries.

“It will fundamentally change the way we live, work, and relate to one another. These transitions will require a wide range of new knowledge and skills where the development of relevant STEM human capital will be the main driver for us to participate in the opportunities of this industrial revolution,” he said.

D Kamarudin said this in his speech, which was read by the Dean of UMS Science and Natural Resource Faculty Prof Dr Baba Mosta, at the state-level 2018 National Science Challenge (NSC) yesterday.

Meanwhile, D Kamarudin said, UMS was offering various disciplines of higher education that includes science, technology, engineering and social sciences.

“We hope this could develop human capital that is required by our country and finally resulting in greater innovation and productivity for the benefit of society and the nation as a whole,” he added.

On NSC, D Kamarudin said, the competition aimed at nurturing and enhancing interest of younger generation in science, technology and innovation so that they would love science and finally choose career path in science.

It was organised by the Academy of Sciences Malaysia (ASM) and ExxonMobil subsidiaries in Malaysia, in collaboration with the Education Ministry, MARA and the Young Scientist Network-ASM.