ONE of the 10 shifts focused on in the Malaysia Education Blueprint 2015-2025 (Higher Education) is to build a nation of lifelong learners.
The blueprint states that lifelong learning (LLL) enables Malaysians to meet the changing skill needs of a high-income economy and maximises the potential of individuals who are currently outside the workforce through reskilling and upskilling opportunities.
Dr Teh Choon Jin
The blueprint, explained National Association of Private Educational Institutions (Napei) secretary-general Dr Teh Choon Jin, outlines the structures and agencies that promote LLL such as the Malaysian Qualifications Framework (MQF) that were revamped to include LLL and the switch to outcome-based education (OBE) in higher education.Teh, who is also the Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU) senior director and registrar, added that all programmes offered by public and private universities which are accredited by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA) are required to incorporate the domain skills which prepare graduates for LLL into their programme learning outcomes regardless of their fields of study.
These domain skills include innovative skills, critical thinking skills, information management and LLL skills embedded in the course learning outcomes.
Recognising the importance of LLL, some universities offer certification programmes and micro-credentials to their students while they are still studying for their formal degrees.
“These flexible methods of study are growing in popularity, as students can immediately include certification badges on their curricula vitae (CV). In addition, it pushes them to lead in the competitive job market upon graduation,” said Teh.
He, however, pointed to financial constraints, lack of interest, and the prospect of gig economy jobs such as freelance work, contract jobs, or ride-sharing services that pay more in a shorter time, as factors that might deter students from their pursuit of LLL.
Advising students to focus on the long-term benefits of upskilling themselves, he said those who are facing financial constraints could get loan assistance from the National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) to pursue academic qualifications or the Skills Development Fund Corporation (PTPK) to pursue vocational-technical courses.
There are also training providers offering vocational-technical skills programmes to trainees based on a “train and place” basis where employers are willing to sponsor the cost of training and bond trainees to work for them upon completion of the programmes, Teh shared.
Colleges and universities also have departments to assist these graduates. Students can visit their counsellors, join talks organised by potential employers, or attend job fairs held on campus, Vice Chancellors’ Council for Private Universities Malaysia chairman Prof Mushtak Al-Atabi offered.
He encouraged students to take advantage of these great resources to connect them with potential employers and help them with CV writing and interview preparation.
Prof Mushtak
Prof Mushtak, who is also Heriot-Watt University Malaysia provost and chief executive officer, said, “Jobseekers need to understand the latest trends in the industry of their interest and ensure that they can demonstrate that they have the right ‘ingredients’ to add value to an organisation. It could mean taking online courses or volunteering to gain relevant experience. Often, it means possessing the right mindset, being self-motivated, and exhibiting initiative and the willingness to learn.”Jobseekers should also create and maintain professional online profiles like on LinkedIn and have a detailed CV in good English on hand.
“They should be able to communicate their skills and aspirations well in a job interview,” he added.
Taylor’s University career services head Raja Edriana Baizura stressed the importance of LLL in ensuring the adaptability of talents regardless of the employment landscape.
“Graduates must accept that adaptability is a required skill, identify the areas they need to improve on, and make themselves more marketable to recruiters and companies,” she advised.
Raja Edriana Baizura
Thriving in a VUCA world
It is crucial that students, as well as working adults, look at LLL as a platform for professional growth.
While colleges and universities emphasise the need for continuous learning, employers see it as a way to ensure their companies meet the needs of the future.
This, said APU deputy vice-chancellor (Academic Development & Strategy) Prof Dr Murali Raman, is because we live in a VUCA (volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous) world.
Prof Murali, who oversees Post Graduate and Continuous Education at the varsity, said issues related to rapid and continuous change in technology, environmental issues, and swift changes in social lifestyle put pressure on public and private sector employees to remain relevant in their respective roles and careers.
“We must all pursue LLL if we are to build sustainable careers,” he said, adding that institutions of higher learning are increasingly working hand in hand with corporations to push the LLL agenda.
“At APU, we partner with companies and offer their staff certifications in the Fourth Industrial Revolution (IR4.0) technology space like cybersecurity, robotic processing automation, design thinking, and cloud computing programming.
“These strategic partnerships are designed with a win-win proposition in mind – with the core intention of making sure we play a major role in addressing talent gaps or shortages across different industries,” he added.
The fear that artificial intelligence and technological advancements would take over jobs makes it even more critical that talents focus on their irreplaceable traits.
“Tasks that require pure physical skills and cognitive capabilities will continue to be automated. Therefore, it is crucial to focus on developing human qualities that machines cannot replicate.
“These skills include ethics, creativity, self-motivation, wisdom, empathy, building trust, resourcefulness, and self-awareness.
“Whether students pursue degrees in engineering, medicine, accountancy, business, or architecture, they must enhance their technical skills alongside their human qualities,” said Prof Mushtak.
Ongoing journey
It is always possible to pursue studies later on in life. Short-term courses can help one gain the skills, knowledge and confidence one needs to succeed in one’s current role, or prepare for a new one.
“One of my students, currently in her mid-40s, took a break from her corporate life to start a family.
“After several years, she decided to join the corporate world again, only to realise that she needed to upskill herself with a postgraduate programme to remain relevant and in a leadership position.
“Another student completed his diploma more than a decade ago and had to stop studying to support his family.
“He recently decided to upgrade himself with a formal qualification with APU,” Prof Murali concluded.
Never too late for a career switch
Datuk Dr N.K.S. Tharmaseelan
Graduation is just the start of a lifelong journey of self-improvement. While pursuing your ambitions to be successful, you must accept that academic qualifications alone are not enough to make you a well-rounded personality. It would be best if you were spiritually and physically interactive with others all your life, from cradle to crypt. When I was growing up, most youngsters were groomed to do medicine, law or engineering. As a pure science student, I naturally gravitated towards medicine. I graduated as a doctor in 1974 and specialised in obstetrics and gynaecology. I advanced my career by becoming a senior consultant in the Health Ministry, serving in many states. As an obstetrician, I spent many hours waiting for patients to deliver but I was still keen to fulfil my childhood dream of becoming a lawyer. So, I signed up for a law degree programme and drove to KL from Melaka to attend classes for about four years. I have also completed the Certificate of Legal Practice and Masters in Law. After I left private medical practice, I was appointed vice chancellor of a university in the Klang Valley. As part of my passion, I enrolled in online courses on dementia, religion, psychology, philosophy and ethics. Then, I decided to do my pupilage at a law firm and was finally called to the Bar last month. I recently embarked on a four-year doctorate degree in law at a local university. This will be my final academic pursuit. -Datuk Dr N.K.S. Tharmaseelan, 71
Shereena Roslan
I graduated with a degree in telecommunications and network engineering. While studying, I worked part-time at a clothing outlet as a sales associate. When I graduated in 2016, getting a job in engineering was tough, which was why I turned to retail where I went from store manager to merchandising assistant at a luxury retail company. After close to two years, I decided to upskill and venture into the digital space. I enrolled in a User Experience Design Immersive (UXDI) course and got a job as an eCommerce coordinator. Although I studied UXDI, my passion is in trade and sales. Every design or recommendation I put forward is driven by sales. I am now an eCommerce manager and I manage a website from end to end. I love the rush and the pace of retail, and I am proud of my diverse skills and qualifications which shaped my career. -Shereena Roslan, 32
Dimitri R.
I’ve never been to culinary school, although I’ve always loved cooking. I graduated with a law degree and got called to the Bar in the United Kingdom in 2018. Whatever free time I had during my college and university days, I would spend flipping through recipe books and whipping something up. When I returned to Malaysia, the only thing that made sense was to start applying to law firms. However, I was in limbo because pursuing law felt like something I had to do, not something I wanted. Despite my reservations, I joined the legal field, and gave myself one year before I started pursuing my other passion, cooking. Since 2020, I’ve been chef de cuisine at a bistro in KL. I still have much to learn, and I don’t think one can ever stop pursuing knowledge. The moral of the story is that hobbies don’t have to remain hobbies. I was so worried about entering a new field without professional experience, but as long as you love what you do, that’s all that matters. It’s scary, but it’ll be worth it in the end. -Dimitri R., 29
