Kota Kinabalu: TvetMara Kota Kinabalu recorded a 94.5pc graduate employability rate for its 2025 cohort, reflecting the growing relevance of technical and vocational education to the job market, said TVET Director Abdul Munap Tahir.
He said 25.2pc of graduates earned RM2,000 or more, with the employability figure including those who worked in the public and private sectors, as well as those who started their own businesses.
“The convocation is not the end of the journey, but the beginning of a new chapter,” Abdul Munap said in his speech at the 16th TvetMara Kota Kinabalu Convocation at the Auditorium, Sabah Federal Administration Complex, here, Saturday.
He said the achievement demonstrated TvetMara Kota Kinabalu’s commitment to produce fresh graduates with relevant skills upon entering industry requirements.
Abdul Munap said enrolment for the July-December 2026 intake has also reached 100pc, indicating growing confidence in the institution and its technical education programmes.
Meanwhile, Mara Council member Siti Ajar Yassin said TvetMara is expanding beyond traditional skills training by cementing its industrial pathway through the Mara Certification Council (MCC).
She said the MCC would prioritise industry-specific skills based on economic zones, communities and high value industries, providing graduates with skills that could lead to immediate employment, higher pay salary and also career advancement.
“The industry pathway is important because it focuses on industry-specific skills, immediate employability and career mobility,” she said.
Siti added that the changing labour landscape which is being highly driven by artificial intelligence, automation, digitalisation, green technology and renewable energy, involves continuous adaptation of TVET programmes.
She said TVET should no longer be viewed as an alternative route for students continuing their education, but rather as a strategic option for economic development and talent creations.
Siti urged graduates to be prepared to pursue opportunities outside Sabah, such as in Peninsular Malaysia and abroad.
She said some sponsored study and employment opportunities had previously gone unfilled due to students reluctant to leave Sabah.
She advised graduates to “get out of their shells” and pursue opportunities that could lead to better career prospects.
She said employees are now looking for qualities other than academic qualifications when hiring, such as attitude, integrity, discipline, willingness to learn and adaptability.
The 16th TvetMara Kota Kinabalu Convocation involved 214 graduates.
