KOTA KINABALU: Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) has to focus on producing competitive and innovative graduates to meet the state's skilled labour needs, says Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.
He said UMS and other higher education institutions must work and strengthen cooperation with industry players to ensure that the students produced meet the standards required by the various businesses and be able to compete nationally and internationally.
"The state government focuses on drawing in investors who need knowledgeable and skilled graduates to meet the demands of the respective industries.
"I hope that UMS will be a university capable of producing graduates to meet the requirements of industries in the near future", he said during the pledge ceremony held in conjunction with the 29th UMS new intake session 2023/2024 here Tuesday (Oct 3).
Hajiji said the State Government remains committed to working with UMS in raising the education standards to meet Sabah's development plans under Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ).
"A good education will help change the quality of life of the people who ultimately contribute to the success and excellence of the country, particularly Sabah state.
"We don't want anyone to be marginalised from receiving education in this state. Therefore, several initiatives have been taken by the State Government to help the children of Sabah continue their studies to a higher level", he said.
As part of the efforts, he said the state government had introduced the Student Consultative Council Sabah, which gives space for future leaders to convey their views, ideas and aspirations of young people in Sabah in empowering the role of youth in this state.
In addition, he said, the Sabah Student Secretariat (Semesta) would be established as a liaison body to listen to the voices of Sabah students to convey their views on the state government's policies.
Hajiji, who is also UMS Pro-Chancellor, said UMS has helped generate a transformation of development in this state and is now one of the leading universities in the country
