KEMAMAN – A degree alone may no longer be enough for graduates entering a job market where employers increasingly operate across borders and industries are being reshaped by technology and global business.
The shift is placing greater emphasis on how universities prepare students beyond the classroom, including their ability to adapt to different cultures, work environments and industry practices.
Against this backdrop, Kolej Universiti TATI (UC TATI) has expanded its international education efforts by sending nine students to mainland China as its first group to pursue further studies there.
The students are pursuing programmes in engineering, computer science and business management, with the overseas placement giving them an opportunity to experience a different academic environment while gaining wider exposure to China’s technology and business sectors.
UC TATI Deputy Rector for Academic and Internationalisation Ts. Dr. Mohd Najib Muhamed said the institution needed to look beyond conventional approaches to higher education and build stronger links with international stakeholders to keep pace with industry requirements.
“We need to step out of our comfort zones, both as stakeholders in higher education and as students planning their own futures, in response to the demands of today’s global industries. Each of us has a great responsibility to build a new generation that will drive the economy and progress of our country.
“We cannot deny that China is a global powerhouse that leads in many industries, including technology, which has increasingly become a fundamental part of everyday life. The growth of the technology industry is also, at its core, driven by global business transactions, providing added value in producing quality graduates in related fields,” he said.
Mohd Najib said China’s position as a major technology and industrial power would provide students with exposure to developments that could shape their future careers.
He said Yayasan Terengganu (YT) also played an important role as a strategic partner in widening access to international higher education for UC TATI students, particularly those from Terengganu.
The nine students have been placed at Guangzhou Huashang Vocational College (GHVC), where they will first undergo Mandarin language studies before sitting for the Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi (HSK).
They will then proceed with their respective degree programmes, giving them the opportunity to combine their academic studies with international exposure.
For the students, the experience could also mean learning to operate outside familiar surroundings while gaining a broader view of the industries and opportunities that await them beyond Malaysia.