By Ashley Sim
KUCHING, May 7: i-Cats University College has formalised strategic partnerships with 19 industry companies and 22 Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions in a move that supports Sarawak’s rollout of free tertiary education starting in 2026 and strengthens the State’s long-term workforce development.
The exchange ceremony for the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and Letter of Intent (LoI), held today at i-Cats here, was witnessed by Sarawak Deputy Minister for Education, Innovation, and Talent Development, Datuk Dr Annuar Rapaee.
In his speech, Dr Annuar praised i-Cats for being ahead of other local universities in building direct linkages with TVET institutions and the industry, which he said are critical to ensuring the success of Sarawak’s free tertiary education initiative.
“The most important question is — who will benefit from free tertiary education in 2026? It must be accessible to all, not just the well-off. This is not part of any political propaganda. We never promised this in any election, but we are delivering it because it is the right thing to do,” he said.
He noted that under the new policy, students enrolling in 64 selected courses at Sarawak-owned universities will be exempted from tuition fees, with additional financial aid of RM15,000 provided to students from families earning below RM1,500 per month.
“This policy combines equality and equity, not only are we waiving fees, but we are also ensuring those from disadvantaged backgrounds have the support to succeed,” he added.
Dr Annuar emphasised that the collaboration between universities, TVET institutions, and industries is essential to align education pathways with Sarawak’s development agenda, including green technology, aerospace, and artificial intelligence.
“This signing marks a key milestone in our ambition to develop Sarawak into a low-carbon, technology-driven state. The real drivers of this vision are not just policymakers, but also educators and industry players,” he said.
Meanwhile, i-Cats vice chancellor Professor Emeritus Datuk Dr Mohamad Kadim Suaidi said the LoI exchange with 22 TVET institutions demonstrates the university’s commitment to building an academic ecosystem that supports student mobility and lifelong learning.
“Through this initiative, graduates from polytechnics, vocational colleges, community colleges, and technical institutions will have a direct pathway to pursue diploma and bachelor’s degree programmes at i-Cats,” he said.
He added that the university will continue to promote technology-based academic programmes and establish clear academic progression routes for students to further their studies up to the master’s and PhD levels.
“This collaboration bridges the gap between technical training and higher education, offering a more accessible, affordable, and attainable future for students across Sarawak,” he said.
Mohamad Kadim also shared that i-Cats is actively pursuing strategic initiatives to attain full university status by 2026.
“Among the key initiatives are the development of new faculties such as the Faculty of Energy Transition, Faculty of Aerospace Engineering, and the establishment of the i-Cats Digital Business School,” he said. — DayakDaily
