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UUM ONLINE: The issue of graduate unemployment, job mismatch, and low starting salaries will be the primary focus of the 2024 Public University Career Carnival. 

The Director General of Higher Education, Prof. Dr Azlinda Azman, said that the graduate marketability rate (GE) is a key indicator of the country's higher education ecosystem's ability to produce high-quality graduates and fulfil industry demands. 

According to her, the higher the marketability of graduates, the higher the quality of graduates produced by higher education institutions (HEIs). These graduates are equipped to meet the industry鈥檚 current demands and vice versa. 

She stated that, in order to enhance collaboration between HEIs and the industry, MoHE is committed to closely collaborating with all HEIs, including public and private universities, to maximize the utilization of talent resources within the current higher education sector. 

"The career carnival attended by 20 public universities, spearheaded by the Chairman of MyGRAD, Assoc. Prof. Datuk Dr Sabri Mohamad Sharif, would primarily address the issues of graduate unemployment, job mismatch, and low initial salaries for graduates. 

"Hence, this Public University Graduate and Career Marketability Month is held with the objective of creating a platform for the community, especially graduates and skilled workers seeking employment, to gain a deeper understanding of the industry and enhance their prospects,鈥� she said at the Opening Ceremony of the UUM Career Carnival and Launch of Public University Graduates' Employability and Career Month 2024 at the Tan Sri Othman Hall today. 

In addition, she also expressed gratitude to Talentbank for their consistent collaboration with public universities and MyGRAD in promoting the employability of graduates for HEIs in the country. 

According to her, the government is consistently committed to ensuring that any shortcomings that exist in the labour market are promptly addressed to ensure that graduates from both public and private universities are paid a respectable salary that aligns with the rise in productivity. 

She stated that MoHE has also prioritized improving graduates' employability at the tertiary education level, as well as intensifying efforts and initiatives at the ministry and public university levels.

"I believe that the various activities organised by all public universities will be able to benefit all visitors in securing job placements or industrial training, but also help those seeking career advancement and contribute to the local community, particularly the B40 group," she said. 

She also commended UUM for achieving the greatest percentage of graduate employability in the past five years, with a remarkable growth of 94 percent from 2022 to 95 percent in 2023.

Meanwhile, UUM Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Dr Mohd Fuad Sakdan, said that as one of the leading public universities in the country, UUM faces the task of ensuring that its graduates possess strong competitiveness and relevant skills to ensure their marketability in the career world.

According to him, various measures and initiatives are being vigorously implemented within the framework of the UUM Thrust 6 Strategic Plan, namely graduate employability. The goal is to enhance the marketability of graduates from this university, aligning with the aspirations of the Ministry of Higher Education. 

He said through the persistent efforts of various parties at UUM, particularly the Career Development and Graduate Employability Centre and the various schools, UUM will achieve a graduate employability rate of 95 percent in 2023. 

"The ongoing UUM Career Carnival and the 2024 Public University Graduate and Career Employability Month are initiatives aimed at connecting UUM graduates with potential employers as well as enhancing UUM's graduate employability for 2024. 

"Opportunities and exposures like this hold significant value in the context of enhancing the qualifications and quality of competencies of graduates in relation to the actual requirements of potential employers across diverse industrial sectors," he said. 

He also expressed his deepest appreciation and gratitude to the Ministry of Higher Education and all parties involved in organising this successful event and programme, with a special mention to MYGRAD and Talentbank. 

A total of 40 exhibitors participated in the UUM Career Carnival, and it is expected that more than 2,000 visitors will attend the carnival, which starts today until 25 June.