ARAU: Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP) is targeting 25 to 30 per cent of its graduates to earn premium salaries of RM4,000 and above by 2030.
Its deputy vice-chancellor (Academic and International), Prof Ir Dr Mohd Shukry Abdul Majid, said the university was strengthening its industry-driven education approach to equip graduates with skills and experience sought by employers.
He said 14 of its 50 academic programmes adopted Work-Based Learning (WBL) through the ‘2u1i’ (two years at university and one year in industry) or ‘2u2i’ models.
“Under WBL, students spend a full year with industry partners, undertaking academic courses while gaining practical experience.
“This period allows employers to assess their performance and familiarise them with the company’s working culture. Many outstanding students are offered jobs upon graduation.”
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Shukry said industry involvement was incorporated into three phases, from programme development and delivery to continuous curriculum improvement.
Industry representatives also served on Boards of Study, as visiting lecturers and Final Year Project assessors, while contributing to course development.
UniMAP recently received RM1.3 million from the Northern Corridor Implementation Authority to develop elective courses with Jabil and Walta Engineering which cover manufacturing, electrical and computer engineering.
He said the university was also planning apprenticeship-based programmes, allowing students to spend one year on campus and the remaining two to three in industry.
Beyond academic qualifications, UniMAP is incorporating internationally recognised professional certifications into its technical and vocational education and training (TVET) programmes.
About 10 of its 33 TVET programmes offer certifications involving Huawei, Siemens, Cisco, Keysight and CATIA, alongside qualifications in electric vehicle technology, occupational safety and health, and welding inspection.
“Our target is to ensure all 33 TVET programmes offer professional certifications by 2030,” he said.
The approach has contributed to UniMAP recording a graduate employability rate of 99.4 per cent among its 2025 graduates.
Based on the 2024 and 2025 Graduate Tracer Studies, the university also ranked first among public universities for the percentage of graduates employed by multinational corporations.
Currently, about 15 per cent of its graduates, particularly those in the electrical and electronics and semiconductor sectors, earn premium salaries.
The university is also expanding flexible education opportunities for industry workers through weekend programmes in Penang, in collaboration with the Penang Skills Development Centre and Walta.
Nearly 70 technicians and employees of multinational companies enrolled in its inaugural October intake to pursue bachelor’s degrees.
UniMAP is also developing an APEL.A Assessment Centre to enable workers to use their experience to pursue higher education.
On international exposure, Shukry said 13 students were sent overseas for industrial training this year, including placements in Canada, Japan, Taiwan, Thailand and Turkiye. The university aims to increase the number to 30 students next year.