Kuala lumpur: More than 98 per cent of graduates from polytechnics and community colleges in the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) field have secured employment, reinforcing the role of these institutions in producing a skilled workforce.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Department of Polytechnic and Community College Education (JPPKK) senior director (Academic) Dr Mohd Daud Isa stated that the hospitality, culinary, engineering, and manufacturing sectors were among the key industries offering the highest employment opportunities to graduates from polytechnics and community colleges. Dr. Isa highlighted that since TVET was identified as one of the key areas in the development of the country's workforce, the employability rate of polytechnic and community college graduates has consistently exceeded 95 per cent each year. He emphasized that this achievement demonstrates that TVET graduates from the country's polytechnics and community colleges possess the skills and competencies required by the industry.
He was speaking at the closing ceremony of the 6th National Conference of TVET Bachelor's Degree Students (NCTS 2026) at the Dewan Jubli Perak, Politeknik Ungku Omar (PUO). Mohd Daud mentioned that many graduates had also received job offers while undergoing Work-Based Learning (WBL) programmes with their respective companies, thanks to their early exposure to the industry. He noted that the positive trend in graduate employability was also reflected in the rising number of new student enrolments at polytechnics and community colleges, indicating growing interest in TVET.
Dr. Mohd Daud stated, 'The high graduate employability rate shows that the TVET education pathway offers strong career prospects, making polytechnics and community colleges an increasingly attractive choice for students.' On the conference, he mentioned that 167 research papers were presented, involving undergraduates from the four polytechnics offering bachelor's degree programmes. The presentations featured a wide range of innovation-and technology-driven projects, as well as solutions to real industry challenges, in line with efforts to strengthen the research culture among TVET students.
He also added that conferences such as NCTS provide students with a platform to showcase their research and innovations while developing the critical, analytical, and creative thinking skills required by today's industries. Furthermore, he noted that the students' projects had the potential to be further developed through collaboration with industry partners, including for commercialisation, to generate broader benefits for society and the nation.