Kota bharu: Universiti Malaysia Kelantan (UMK) is increasing its efforts to enhance graduate employability by collaborating with industry leaders for student industrial training placements with government-linked investment companies (GLICs), government-linked companies (GLCs), and publicly traded firms on Bursa Malaysia.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, UMK's vice-chancellor, Prof Datuk Dr Arham Abdullah, emphasized that the initiative is designed not only to produce job-ready graduates but also to instill an entrepreneurial mindset, encouraging students to become job creators. He highlighted UMK's identity as an entrepreneurship-focused university, aiming to equip students with the skills to start their own businesses.

The collaboration with industry players is being expanded nationwide, involving major companies from the Klang Valley and other regions. Arham cited a successful partnership with a prominent property developer that operates a hotel, where students from UMK's Faculty of Hospitality and Tourism received commendations from the company's leadership.

In terms of international student enrolment, UMK recorded 492 international students last year, hailing from China, Indonesia, Thailand, other ASEAN countries, and West Asia. To further attract international students, UMK has launched an 'International Advisor' scheme, appointing alumni as regional representatives to aid with admissions, visa processes, and disseminating information to potential students. These representatives also provide online briefings in local languages, offering insights into living costs and campus life in Malaysia.

Regarding graduate employability, Arham noted that while the Ministry of Higher Education has not yet released official figures for last year, UMK previously achieved a graduate employability rate of 97.2 per cent in 2024.