Putrajaya: The Higher Education Tour Programme is a manifestation of the Ministry of Higher Education’s (KPT) commitment to reach out to the rural and interior communities of Sabah to empower the development of higher education, especially the younger generation in the area. The tour series, which was first held in Sabah, is not only a platform to expand access to information on higher education opportunities offered by universities or Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions, but also as a medium for sharing knowledge through various beneficial training with the local community.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the initiative is being implemented in line with the KPT’s spirit of “Sharing Knowledge, Supporting Communities” which has toured several locations in the Land Below the Wind including Kota Belud, Sepanggar, Kudat, Kota Marudu, Lahad Datu, Tawau, Sandakan, Sipitang, and Tenom since July. Deputy Minister of Higher Education Datuk Mustapha Sakmud emphasized that the initiative aims to ensure that Sabahan children do not miss out on important information regarding the courses of study offered as well as the entry routes to each higher education institution, polytechnic, and community college.
“This programme is a new concept and brand introduced in Sabah as a platform to create opportunities for direct interaction so that relevant information is easy to understand. This will motivate the younger generation of Sabah, especially those in rural areas, to plan their future to pursue higher education,” he told reporters. Mustapha noted that the government is committed to expanding access to education throughout the country, including Sabah and Sarawak. However, based on his observations, access to information on the matter is quite limited in Sabah, prompting the ministry to bring representatives of universities, polytechnics, and community colleges directly to the field to meet the state’s community so that they can obtain information directly.
Apart from the involvement of Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) and Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Mustapha mentioned that the tour series was also attended by universities from Peninsular Malaysia such as Universiti Malaysia Kelantan (UMK) and Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) to introduce these institutions to the Sabah community. The programme received an encouraging response, serving as a medium for accessing information on admission to institutions and channelling fields of knowledge such as skills, agriculture, and entrepreneurship that could generate income for the local community.
Mustapha highlighted that short courses were offered free of charge throughout the tour series through Lifelong Education (PSH) covering various skill areas, including courses on how to make keropok lekor, fish balls, yellow noodles, flower decoration and arrangements, and basket weaving. The move aims to inform the Sabah community that PSH study courses are also available at community colleges for as little as RM5, thus encouraging them to pursue these fields in the future.
The Higher Education Tour Programme also extended its reach to primary school students in Sabah to open the thinking space of that generation, especially in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) through several activities held to attract their interest in the relevant majors. Mustapha is optimistic that the programme will reduce the information gap and ensure access to higher education information reaches all levels of society regardless of location, while inspiring Sabah youth to confidently step into universities or TVET institutions.
He expressed hope that parents will encourage their children to focus on education and take up a major at a community college or polytechnic after the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM), ensuring they do not end up with just SPM. “This (higher education tour) is the concern of the MADANI government for the people of Sabah to improve their education and socio-economic level,” he said. Mustapha added that the programme would be expanded to other states, focusing on rural, interior, indigenous, and vulnerable communities to ensure these groups also gain access to information on educational opportunities at universities and TVET institutions.
Meanwhile, the director of the UMK Institute of Small and Medium Enterprises, Dr Mohd Ikhwan Aziz, described the higher education tour programme as a beneficial step for the community, especially entrepreneurs in rural and interior areas. The instructor for the digital entrepreneurship course in the Tenom tour mentioned that 30 participants who are also community entrepreneurs from the district were given exposure to transform their businesses to digital platforms. “We found that many community entrepreneurs have not yet converted their businesses into digital forms. From this training, entrepreneurs can do so to enable their products to be reached by all Malaysians and subsequently increase their income,” he said.
A young participant of the tour in Tenom, Marybeth Aking, expressed happiness for taking the Snowy Mooncake Course for the first time and having the opportunity to learn cake-making from instructors who produce their own products. “Thank you for organising a programme like this. I am very happy to meet many friends. With what I have gained from this course, I can start a business in the future,” she said.