UKM eyes future with SmSn Citra
UNIVERSITI Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) has introduced a new programme called Bachelor of Science in Liberal Studies (SmSn Citra) to provide undergraduates with multiskills, including marketability.
This is in line with technological progress and challenges, and is important for the future.
The programme will use the 2u2i approach, which means undergraduates will spend two years on campus and another two in the industry of their choice, focusing on workbased learning to improve their employability.
UKM Vice-Chancellor Professor Tan Sri Dr Noor Azlan Ghazali said SmSn Citra was the first in Malaysia to have a flexible, cross-disciplinary structured programme that allowed students to focus on fields of expertise that were relevant to their careers and goals.
He said this work-based learning programme used the Jukebox and 2u2i concepts, which paid attention to subjects across disciplines and faculties, reaching beyond the university and country.
Noor Azlan said Citra stood for Canggih (sophistication), Integrasi (integration), Teknologi (technology), Rentas (across disciplines) and Aplikasi (application).
He said it was a future-focused curriculum that could be customised to suit the needs of a career, industry or job.
“The job market has become increasingly challenging, especially when it comes to the demands of Industrial Revolution 4.0, which seeks multi-skilled employees equipped with multidisciplinary knowledge.
“Therefore, we need to evolve with time and produce students who are knowledgeable and versatile, and will be accepted in the job market.”
He announced the pilot programme during the orientation programme of UKM’s 2018/2019 student session at Kolej Burhanuddin Helmi at UKM here yesterday.
A total of 4,107 students will pursue their degrees in the 2018/2019 session at UKM. Of the number, a pilot batch of 100 students will join the new, work-based four-year programme from this month.
UKM offers 73 degree programmes, in which 47 are science and 26 arts, across 12 faculties, excluding post-graduate courses.
“The Citra programme is a mixand-match mechanism that is useful for students to pursue their fields,” Noor Azlan said.
He said the 2u2i approach will arm students with knowledge and experience in their fields.
“This is because instead of the traditional five or six semesters of classes and internship with a company, students get to experience two years of working in their fields.”
He said SmSn Citra gave students better on-the-job knowledge and idea of the prospects once they graduate.
He said UKM strove to produce marketable graduates, adding that Citra was one of its latest initiatives.
He congratulated and wished new students the best in pursuing their dreams.