Celebrating student entrepreneurs
Entrepreneurship programmes at varsities, colleges have benefited 17,000 graduates
ENTREPRENEURSHIP programmes and a holistic ecosystem in universities and colleges have produced more than 17,000 entrepreneurs from graduates in the past six years.
About 17,122 higher education graduates have benefited from this exposure, an increase of 75 per cent last year from 20 per cent in 2011.
The most popular industries in which graduates decided to grow their businesses were retail, food and beverage and services.
Through the Education Ministry’s Entrepreneurial Awards (MEA), higher education institutions have provided an ecosystem that is holistic and conducive for the development of their students to prepare them to be more confident and ready for the real world.
The MEA was held last Friday at the Royale Chulan Hotel here to celebrate student entrepreneurs and their higher education institutions.
The MEA is part of the Entrepreneurship Action Plan of Higher Education Institutions (2016-2020) to encourage students in higher institutions to be in a structured entrepreneurial ecosystem through relevant programmes. There were five categories: Outstanding Student Enterprise Award, Outstanding Graduate Enterprise Award, Outstanding Entrepreneurship Mentor Award and Outstanding Student Social Entrepreneurship Award.
Education Minister Dr Maszlee Malik presented the awards to the winners. He advised participants and winners to continue with their entrepreneurship ambition, and to continue seeking new knowledge.
“These awards will give the recipients and participants, motivation to continue on their entrepreneurship journey.
“Of course, they will have a better future seeing that they are able to take risks — and I hope they will excel in both education and their business while also inspiring others with their hardworking spirit.
“Finally, my advice to the winners and participants is having experience is important, but please read, and encourage others to read and you will equip yourself with more knowledge,” he said.
The Most Entrepreneurial Polytechnic of The Year was won by Politeknik Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah (Polisas), which received RM100,000 in Entrepreneurship Development grant and a certificate plaque.
Polisas spokesman Norlida Abd Razak said the money will be used to fund their entrepreneurship programmes at the polytechnic.
“With the victory, we would like to plan towards better entrepreneurial programmes at Polisas.”
Polisas has been encouraging entrepreneurship programmes and is also the pioneer in organising the Young SocialPreneur Programme and was recorded in the Malaysia Book of Records with the most number of young entrepreneurs last year.
The Most Entrepreneurial University of the Year was awarded to Universiti Sains Malaysia, which received a grant of RM250,000, trophy and certificate plaque, while the Most Entrepreneurial Community College was presented to two colleges, Kolej Komuniti Baling and Kolej Komuniti Sungai Petani, which both received a RM50,000 grant, and certificate plaques and trophies.
The winner for Outstanding Student Award was awarded to Fahmy Rayyan Hamdan 23, a Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) Diploma in public policy graduate.
His company, Jiwa Generasi Sdn Bhd, specialises in the extraction of copper from ewaste. He garnered RM5 million in yearly revenue and made a profit of RM600,000 last year.
He dedicated his victory to his parents and lecturers from his university, but said his business would not thrive without perseverance. “My secret to success is to persevere when there are challenges ahead, accompanied with prayers and support from family and friend, and, of course, hard work as well,” he said, adding that he was planning to expand his business in the near future.
Fahmy received a plaque and a RM50,000 grant.
Politeknik Sultan Idris Shah Kulit Kayu Manis received RM30,000 as the first runner-up and Fitgear Global from Multimedia University were placed second runner-up with grant of RM20,000.
The Best Student Enterprise Award was given to Liyana Sweetland Resources owned by 21-yearold Nur Liyana Suhaimi, a UiTM graduate.
Her business of premixed and readymade ice creams were designed to solve storage problems. With her win, Liyana hopes to expand her business.
“I started dabbling in business when I was 16. I would like my peers to know that studying is not a deterrent to your business, but a challenge to how you manage yourself,” she said.
“Having your own business will also help with unemployment rate in Malaysia. With the reward, I will help more people in the future by employing them in my company.”
The first runner-up in the same category was Kis Satay by Kolej Komuniti Sik who received a RM15,000 grant while second runner up 24 Angels Home Care : We Care Mobile Sdn Bhd from MMU received a RM10,000 grant. Both also received certificate plaques.
In the special category celebrating mentors, the Outstanding Entrepreneurship Mentor Award was awarded to Prof Dr Mohar Yusof from Unirazak.
The Senior Coordinator, Research and Case Studies at the Bank Rakyat School of Business and Entrepreneurship who is mentoring 37 students, received RM10,000.
Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris Dr Sharul Effendy Janudin was presented as the first runner-up with RM5,000, and Universiti Teknologi Malaysia won the second runner up with a grant of RM3,000. They all received certificate plaques.
Students from Universiti Malaysia Sabah, or the Mulberry team, won the Outstanding Student Social Entrepreneurship Award and received RM20,000 in grant.
The team commercialised the Mulberry plant into a product with market value to improve the livelihoods of the community in Kampung Tudan, Sabah. Since January 2017, the team has managed to generate around RM95,081 in revenue.
Project for Happiness: The Grey Oyster Mushroom from UiTM won first runner-up with a RM15,000 grant, while second runner up Arts Projection Adikarma:APA from USM were presented with RM10,000 grant.