KUCHING: A total of 93 per cent of Sarawak Skills graduates secured employment within six months of completing their training, with 78 per cent of them working in the skills fields they studied.

Sarawak Skills Chairman Tan Sri Datuk Amar (Dr) Abdul Aziz Dato Husain said the achievement demonstrates the effectiveness of the institution's training approach in producing competent workers who meet the needs of the job market.

"The employability rate of 93 per cent six months after graduation shows that Sarawak Skills is on the right track in producing a competent and competitive workforce," he said.

He said this when speaking at the 28th Sarawak Skills Convocation Ceremony, officiated by Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Tun Datuk Abang Openg, here on Thursday.

At the ceremony, 851 graduates received skills certificates and diplomas, comprising 579 recipients of the Malaysian Skills Certificate (SKM), 224 recipients of the Malaysian Skills Diploma (DKM), six graduates of the SKM and DKM programmes through Accreditation of Prior Achievement (PPT), and 42 graduates of the Electrician Low Voltage Chargeman (L1) programme.

Speaking further, Tan Sri Abdul Aziz said Sarawak Skills continues to strengthen its training approach by emphasising industry exposure, practical experience and the use of the latest technology to ensure graduates are prepared for the demands of the job market.

"Sarawak Skills remains committed to leading the transformation of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) through the shift from Institution-Based Training to Industry-Based Training, with an emphasis on practical training, exposure to the latest technology and direct industry involvement in the development and implementation of training programmes," he said.

In a related development, he said Sarawak Skills received the highest number of Five-Star Rating Awards from the Department of Skills Development Malaysia (JPK) in 2025, in recognition of the institution's excellence in management, training quality and industry collaboration.

The ceremony also saw the presentation of Industry Awards to 27 graduates in recognition of their outstanding achievements, as well as the introduction of the Sarawak Foundation Outstanding Graduate Award for the first time.

The special Sarawak Foundation award went to Cyprian Borameo Jo Guan of the Malaysian Skills Diploma programme in Industrial Automation Engineering Systems Support, and Thien Jian Hui of the Malaysian Skills Diploma programme in Printing Operations Management.

Three main Sarawak Skills awards were also presented: the Sarawak Skills Chairman's Award to Tiara Ashfilia Chrismer Dang Tuah, the Sarawak Skills TVET Award (Malaysian Skills Diploma Category) to Sylvester Ipal, and the Sarawak Skills TVET Award (Malaysian Skills Certificate Category) to Alvin Dennis. -UKASnews

Prepared by: Jonnie Kiew
Photos: Muhammad Rais Sanusi
Translator: Uilson Ng