Alor setar: The establishment of the Academic Centre of Excellence (EV-MIACE), which focuses on electric motorcycle technology, has the potential to strengthen Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in that field. Deputy Minister of Rural and Regional Development (KKDW) Datuk Rubiah Wang stated that Kolej Lembaga Kemajuan Wilayah Kedah (KEDA) is the first training institution in the state set to offer such training in collaboration with Syarikat Motosikal dan Enjin Nasional Sendirian Berhad (Modenas).
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the centre will not only serve as a training hub for students but also has the potential to function as a research and innovation centre for electric vehicle (EV) technology. This collaboration not only provides students with expertise in EV technology but also gives instructors the opportunity to upskill and undergo reskilling related to EV technology, she said.
She said this during a press conference after the 13th KEDA College Graduation Ceremony and the Launch of the KEDA College-Modenas EV-MIACE here today. Rubiah further noted that current developments in EV technology open up new opportunities for TVET graduates to master skills required by the industry, thereby enhancing their employability both domestically and internationally.
"Our hope is that this collaboration will not only enable the sharing of expertise in EV technology but also provide space to generate a skilled workforce. Many more memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with other industries will be established to ensure our education system is more structured and comprehensive," she said.
According to her, the automotive field is not solely focused on EV technology; students will also have the opportunity to study other automotive areas, including high-powered motorcycles. "We want to take advantage of technological developments and current needs, which are seen as increasingly growing. So far, in the automotive field, nearly 100 percent of graduating students secure employment," she stated.
She added that the newly offered course has a study duration of six months, though KEDA College also plans to offer short-term courses for industry workers or interested individuals. This edition of the KEDA College Graduation Ceremony saw a total of 367 graduates successfully complete their skills and diploma studies, while another 115 were Tahfiz TVET graduates.