Revamp courses, colleges urged

JOHOR BARU: Higher learning institutions should revamp their courses to meet the needs and challenges of the Industrial Revolution 4.0, said MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong.

“We are fast approaching the big data era. Very soon, some 65% of current jobs, including white collar jobs such as in administration, will be eliminated after some years,” Wee said after attending the 26th Southern University College convocation ceremony here yesterday.

A total of 900 graduates of various levels and faculties received their certificates and scrolls at the convocation ceremony, a record for the 27-year-old university.

“We do not even know what jobs will be available for the current primary school students when they grow up,” said Wee, who is also minister in the Prime Minister’s Department.

“If the courses taught in educational institutions are not relevant to future needs, the graduates will end up with no commercial value,” he said, adding that jobs such as data scientists, data professionals as well as robotics and genetic engineers would be in demand in this new era.

On another matter, Wee said the private company status of some non-profit higher learning institutions such as University Tunku Abdullah Rahman would not be affected after amendments to the Private Higher Educational Institutions Act 1996 are passed this year.

The proposed amendments, among others, would help regulate fees in private higher learning institutions.

The amendments drafted by the Higher Education Ministry have been endorsed by the Cabinet and have been through its first reading in Parliament in April.

“I expect the amendments to be passed in the next parliament sitting,” Wee said.

According to statistics, there are 400 private colleges nationwide.