Malaysia pushes polytechnic and community college graduates into skill-aligned jobs

At the 2026 Sabah Zone Polytechnic and Community College Convocation, Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir stressed that employability statistics above 98% are insufficient unless graduates secure positions that match their training and provide decent wages. He urged deeper partnerships between educational institutions and industry throughout curriculum development, training, certification and recruitment.

Zambry noted that emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, automation, robotics, renewable energy and cybersecurity are altering the labour market, demanding problem-solving, creativity and adaptability. He reaffirmed the TVET 2.0 Agenda, positioning polytechnics and community colleges as the TVET pioneer under the Malaysia Higher Education Plan 2026-2035. The polytechnic and community college network now includes 36 polytechnics and 106 community colleges serving over 100,000 students, with Sabah hosting three polytechnics and nine colleges that support local sectors like energy, tourism and the digital economy. Finally, he announced that five additional polytechnics will soon offer degree-level programmes to broaden technical and engineering pathways.