Its minister, Noraini Ahmad, said the target was in line with one of the initiatives stipulated under the 12th Malaysia Plan, namely for university graduates to obtain the Malaysian Skills Certificate (SKM).

She said efforts to empower TVET required the cooperation of various parties, including industry players.

“The ministry always welcomes new ideas and views from industries on how to further strengthen the country’s higher education sector.

“Close cooperation between the universities and industries is very important to produce quality graduates to meet industry demands,” she said when officiating the TVET Empowerment programme at Dewan Sultan Ibrahim, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, here today.

Meanwhile, the university’s vice-chancellor, Ruzairi Abdul Rahim, said they aimed to expand their TVET-based courses over the next three years.

“Currently, we are offering several TVET-based courses at the Faculty of Technical and Vocational Education and the Faculty of Engineering Technology. These will be further expanded,” he said.