Selangor: Selangor continues to strengthen its Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programmes to meet the rising demand for skilled workers in high-value sectors, such as automation, artificial intelligence (AI), biotechnology, and aerospace. The move is seen as a strategic effort to accelerate the growth of a technology-driven economy, ensuring Selangor remains the country's leading industrial hub.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Politeknik Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah (PSA) deputy academic director, Dr Ahmad Aftas Azman, stated that the continued enhancement of TVET programmes in line with industry demands is expected to create more high-skilled job opportunities over the next five to 10 years. He emphasized that with a curriculum designed to match current industry requirements, students will not only be exposed to elements of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (IR4.0), but will also acquire competencies which meet global market expectations.
Dr Ahmad highlighted that Politeknik Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah is one of Selangor's key TVET institutions, supporting the state government's aspiration to broaden technical education and produce highly skilled workers for high-value sectors. With an inclusive academic framework tailored to industry needs, PSA offers high-quality TVET programmes which enable graduates to seamlessly enter the high-tech industrial workforce, particularly within Selangor's rapidly developing industrial clusters.
He added that such inclusive programmes would further reinforce Selangor's position as a high-value technological and economic hub, while enhancing graduates' skills and overall marketability. He mentioned that the initiative would also have a direct impact on expanding the skilled workforce and nurturing future talent.
Meanwhile, the polytechnic's senior lecturer for the Diploma in Mechanical Engineering (Industrial Packaging) programme, Somchai Enoi, noted that the breadth of career pathways available through TVET has enabled many young people to break into the high-technology industry. He observed that the most significant change is the increase in confidence, technical skills, and marketability among Selangor's youth, with many successfully entering specialised industries, such as industrial packaging, medical electronics, and high-tech manufacturing.
Recently, Invest Selangor Berhad chief executive officer Datuk Hasan Azhari Idris reportedly stated that Selangor is expanding its TVET programmes to cater to the needs of high-value sectors, such as AI, automation, biotechnology, and aerospace. He mentioned that the strategy aligns with the federal government's efforts to drive the Central Region Initiative, which serves as a catalyst for the country's new phase of economic growth.
The Selangor government has also introduced the Selangor Career Outreach (SCOUT) programme to ensure a steady supply of skilled workers remains available. With the strengthening of TVET, initiatives such as SCOUT, and strategic collaborations with industry players, Selangor is expected to continue reinforcing its position as Malaysia's leading high-value technology and economic hub.