Institutions should act quickly by providing graduates with relevant skills to address underemployment: MEF

PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) is calling on the government to establish a national-level strategy to regularly update university curriculums based on industry requirements.

Its president Datuk Dr Syed Hussain Syed Husman said institutions of higher learning (IHL) should review the courses offered and drop irrelevant and outdated ones.

“As of the third quarter of 2024, some 1.95 million Malaysians were facing skills-related underemployment.”

“This indicates that a significant portion of tertiary-educated graduates are employed in jobs that do not fit their qualifications.”

“This underemployment now affects 36.8% of the country’s tertiary-educated workforce, and the MEF is concerned that the mismatch between our graduates’ skills and job requirements poses challenges for them and employers.”

Syed Hussain said technological advancements, changing market conditions, and new business models are causing an evolution in the demand for specific skills.

Hence, IHL in emerging economies like Malaysia should act quickly to reflect such changes through their curriculums to ensure graduates are equipped with skills and knowledge that are in demand.

Read More: https://thesun.my/malaysia-news/update-varsity-curriculums-based-on-industry-needs-GB13472567