KUCHING: Seven polytechnics and community colleges including Politeknik Kota Kinabalu Sabah, Politeknik Mukah Sarawak, Politeknik Metro Betong Sarawak, Kolej Komuniti Kuching, Kolej Komuniti Mas Gading and Kolej Komuniti Santubong participated in the ‘Gerak Usahawan Kampus Zon Borneo 2018’ on Sunday.
Held at Kuching Waterfront, present to officiate the event closing ceremony was Deputy Director of Entrepreneurship and Alumni Unit of Politeknik and Kolej Komuniti Education Department Mohd Nor Mazlan Ismail. Earlier in his keynote address, Mohd Nor Mazlan said changing the mindset of graduates to become a job creator required the upbringing and the involvement of many parties, especially the educational institution itself.
He stressed the institutions need to plan, strategise as well as take action that can create awareness and entrepreneurship capabilities among graduates.
“Thus, it is most appropriate that program such as this is implemented to support the desire and objective of the existing education system,” he added. The two-day programme was organised by the Entrepreneurship and Alumni Unit of the Polytechnic Education and Community College Department Malaysia in collaboration with Polytechnic Kuching Sarawak.
Mohd Nor Mazlan was confident that the program is very relevant with the Malaysia Education Development Plan 2015-2025 (Higher Education) – to create graduates that are holistic, balanced and having entrepreneurship characteristics.
“The challenge is definitely different because it is closer to the reality of entrepreneurship and to face with customers of various backgrounds. It is also serves as playground for market positioning and opportunity that hopefully will change the business thinking of the students to develop their commercial products successfully,” he said.
Meanwhile, Politeknik Kuching Director Kamaludin Daud said the Gerakan Usahawan Kampus Borneo 2018 this time around was really significant as they had tried to highlight the role of science and technology in entrepreneurship development in line with the theme ‘Entrepreneurship through Science & Technology’.
Among the activities at the two days event were Robot Soccer, 3D printing and DIY Solar Car, Explorace, STEM Workshop, zumba, colouring contest, face painting, busking, food truck, robot tracer, carnival and lucky draw.
