UTP's Proactive Measures Boost Graduate Marketability
(16 October 2019)
Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (UTP) is always taking proactive steps by implementing various programmes and initiatives to ensure its graduates are not only competitive but also acquire various of skills.
Its Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Mohamed Ibrahim Abdul Mutalib noted that through the initiative, UTP graduates are highly sought-after with about 90 per cent marketability.
He said UTP made the transformation in 2014 by taking strategic steps to transform the learning concept from teaching-based to self-directed learning.
"UTP's Centre of Excellence for Teaching and Learning (CETaL), for example, brings fun to learning and makes learning more challenging and exciting as well as having a positive impact in the employment market.
"The new learning concept implemented helps enhance the role of lecturers and students by encouraging students to become independent through activity-based learning," he said when contacted by Bernama, here today.
Dr Mohamed Ibrahim said there are no longer conventional lecture session while the classes are guided by lecturers via active involvement even when lectures are going on.
According to him, UTP also prepares its graduates to face the new world challenges and are always prepared with the new technology discoveries in various fields such as nanotechnology, robotics, computing and the Internet of Things (IoT).
He said with the establishment of UTP advisory councils such as Academic Advisory Council, International External Examiner, Industry Advisory Panel and Student Advisory Council, have played a vital role in providing views, advice and strategies in terms of academic, curriculum design and student development so that the students are aligned with the need of country, industry and university.
He said lifelong learning is one of the seven elements that UTP instilled to its students, namely self-efficacy, critical thinking, communication and behavioural skills, business intelligence, practical ability and problem-solving ability.
"UTP also requires its students to undertake seven months of industrial training to provide them with real work experience to produce competent and self-reliant graduates before starting their career," he said.
Source: Bernama
