By Nancy Nais
KUCHING, May 17: Acquiring new skills and adapting to new technologies are very important in order to survive today’s rapidly changing global economy.
Education, Innovation and Talent Development Minister Datuk Roland Sagah Wee Inn said Sarawak must nurture and promote the culture of life-long learning to continue its trajectory of economic growth and visibility.
“Gone are the days where we merely stop at our academic certificates. We must realise this need to continually enhance ourselves to stay current with industry trends and update our expertise.
”One can either pursue continuing education to broaden perspectives or simply pick up a skill to develop a new hobby,” Sagah said at the launch of the Centre for Continuing Education, UCSI University Sarawak Campus here today.
His speech was read out by his ministry’s permanent secretary Azmi Bujang.
Emphasising his ministry’s strong belief in continuing education, Sagah stressed on its important role in supporting lifelong learning which can also help professionals to adapt to the ever-changing demands of their respective industries.
“Continuing education, will offer individuals the flexibility to adjust their learning experiences based on their needs, schedules and interests.
“However, it should not be confined to just professional development, instead, it can be taken up for personal enrichment and curiosity as well,” Sagah said.
He added that the establishment of the Centre for Continuing Education shows UCSI University Sarawak Campus’ commitment to lifelong learning and its efforts in assisting local industries to meet their re-skilling and up-skilling needs.
In order to be able to compete in the global environment, Sagah added, it is imperative that companies recognise this and provide their staff with the platforms to acquire skills in the specific areas required within their industries.
Meanwhile, UCSI University Sarawak Campus Pro Vice-Chancellor Mukvinder Kaur Sandhu said the centre focuses on promoting lifelong learning and professional education by working closely with industries and identifying their training needs.
“The various flexible and innovative programmes are designed to help reskill and upskill professionals, making them more competitive in the evolving job market.
“We aim to create opportunities for learners to pursue their passions and interests, regardless of their background or previous educational experience,” Mukvinder said. — DayakDaily
