Financial Literacy for Youth Malaysia vice-president Malcolm Wong said career fairs often favour graduates from top universities because they are known to have better problem-solving abilities.

“Employers don’t look at what you’ve studied any more.

“What they’re looking at is your passion, whether you want to contribute to nation-building, (good at) time management or have other transferable skills.

“Candidates from top universities have typically proven themselves to be resilient, have problem-solving skills and can work together in groups,” he said during a panel discussion at the “Navigating Life’s Financial Maze: Crafting Your Path to a Strong Financial Future” event here today.

Wong said social class and parents’ educational background play an important role in determining access to quality education for youths.

He said the affluent could afford to finance quality education in top universities. Those from less affluent backgrounds face challenges and often rely on student loans.

Meanwhile, economist Geoffrey Williams said parents should not place too much emphasis on university rankings, such as the Quacquarelli Symonds World University Rankings, when determining the top universities.

“These rankings or ratings are not based on academic criteria. About 50% of the rankings for the QS are based on popularity surveys from employers and academic institutions.

“That’s why Malaysian universities’ rankings are bad, even for the best ones in the country,” he said.

The event was jointly organised by the Federation of Investment Managers Malaysia and the Malaysian Institute of Management, with discussions focusing on topics related to financial planning, investment strategies and career growth.