Kuala lumpur: The Ministry of Rural and Regional Development (KKDW) wants the Agro Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) @KKDW programme to continue to be strengthened to produce competent, innovative and highly competitive agro-entrepreneurs. Deputy Minister Datuk Rubiah Wang said the move would also help elevate the country's agricultural sector on the international stage.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, this initiative is aimed at enhancing a smart agricultural curriculum aligned with the Fourth Industrial Revolution, farm mechanisation and automation, and the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the agricultural sector. The programme also emphasizes on the development of agro-based halal industries, fortifying strategic partnerships with global industries, and the establishment of a Regional Agro Innovation Reference Centre.
In her speech at the 21st Convocation Ceremony of Kolej Universiti Agrosains Malaysia (UCAM), Rubiah highlighted that UCAM serves not only as an educational institution but also as a catalyst for Desa MADANI aspirations. It plays a pivotal role in transforming rural communities from aid recipients to opportunity creators, enabling them to shape their own futures.
Rubiah noted that UCAM has successfully produced a workforce that meets industry demands and contributes to the growth of rural communities across various sectors, including agriculture, farm management, livestock, rural development, computer science, and business. The government, through KKDW, envisions UCAM emerging as a leading agricultural TVET institution nationally and a key agricultural hub in Southeast Asia.
Earlier in the ceremony, 467 graduates from 21 different programmes at the Master's, Bachelor's, Diploma, Executive Programme Certificate, and Malaysian Skills Certificate levels received their scrolls. Muhammad Fathur Rahman Mohd Sani, 24, graduated with a Bachelor of Agricultural Science (Honours) and was conferred the Minister of Rural and Regional Development Award (Best Overall Graduate) for his outstanding academic performance.