Sagah: Vital for Sarawak’s human capital to be professionally recognised, accredited

KUCHING (Aug 6): Sarawak must ensure that its human capital is professionally recognised and accredited, said Dato Sri Roland Sagah Wee Inn.

The Education, Innovation and Talent Development Minister said this is in line with Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg’s call for current professionals to register as technicians or technologists.

“The target is 10,000 registered professionals by 2025. As of June this year, Sarawak has 6,555 registered professionals under the Malaysia Board of Technologists (MBOT).

“Our ministry, with the aid of the Association of Professional Technicians and Technologists (APTT), will collaborate with other agencies to achieve this goal,” he said when officiating at the Advanced Sustainability Technology International Conference (ASTECH Sarawak 2024) here today.

On the conference, Sagah said it is crucial for the state as it integrates various components to develop a skilled workforce for a sustainable economy.

He explained that under the Sarawak Talent Policy, the state aims for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (Tvet) workers to hold at least a Malaysian Skills Certificate Level 1 from the Department of Skills Development.

“This initiative is expected to enhance worker competencies and gradually increase salaries,” he said.

Sagah said the conference will benefit both Malaysia and the region by fostering a culture of lifelong learning and providing valuable opportunities for professional development and skills enhancement for graduates and instructors.

“MEITD will leverage ASTECH Sarawak 2024 to advance Tvet education by sharing best practices and innovative ideas,” he said.

He also said ASTECH benefits polytechnics and skills institutions by promoting industry partnerships, staying updated on trends, and improving job opportunities for Tvet graduates.

ASTECH Sarawak 2024, the first international conference organised by Politeknik Negeri Bandung (Polban) in collaboration with Politeknik Kuching Sarawak (PKS), involves 170 presentation papers from Malaysia, Indonesia, Australia, India, Nigeria, the Philippines, and Portugal.

Nearly 600 students from various public and private educational institutions here attended the conference.

Themed ‘Fostering Research and Innovation for Sustainable Tvet Development: Pathways to Resilient Future’, ASTECH Sarawak 2024’s key areas include engineering, technology, science, TVET, and education.