218 IKM graduands receive certificates
BINTULU: A total of 218 graduads received their scrolls during Mara Skills Institute ( IKM) Sarawak convocation at IKM Bintulu yesterday.
The convocation for 74 graduands from IKM Bintulu and 144 graduands from IKM Kuching was officiated by state Mara director Dr Azmi Amat Murjan. Also present were IKM Bintulu director Dr Mohd Nawawi Omar and IKM Kuching director Mhd Yatim Hassan.
“Mara or IKM has been effective in training school leavers especially youths from rural areas in relevant skills accredited by academic and professional bodies,” he said during the opening ceremony.
Azmi said IKM indirectly helps students who might otherwise not be able to further their studies in higher learning institutions in the country.
“Both IKM Bintulu and IKM Kuching help these students gain knowledge while aiding the Bumiputera community improve their socio- economy especially rural communities,” he added.
He stressed that IKM is committed to provide and empower the Bumiputera community to be one of the main contributors to the country’s human capital for the country to compete globally.
“I also believe that as human capital development institutions, IKM Bintulu and IKM Kuching are responsible for providing skilled and semi-skilled workforce to meet industrial needs particularly in Sarawak through TVET (Technical and Vocational Education and Training).
“Under the 11th Malaysia Plan, about 60 per cent of 1.5 million jobs will require TVET,”Dr Azmi added.
He said IKM Bintulu and IKM Kuching have prepared for Industrial Revolution 4.0 by recruiting experts in relevant oil and gas, automotive, electrical and mechanical services and creating more entrepreneurs in the oil and gas industry.
He said the setting up of Oil Production Plant ( OPP) in IKM Bintulu was part of Mara’s initiatives to support relevant oil and gas sector.
Azmi also emphasised that partnership with local industries enabled both institutions to offer courses to meet the needs of future industries.
He revealed that IKM Bintulu is in the process of acquiring Asia Pacific Accreditation and Certification Commission in line with its motto ‘Global Competent Workforce Gateway’.