SIBU: University Technology Sarawak (UTS) will help prepare Sarawak to produce graduates for a competitive digital economy of the future by producing a technologically and digitally savvy generation.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg said UTS does not only focus on academics alone but also delivers skills and firsthand experience, including spearheading the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) agenda.
“In preparation of the fourth industrial revolution (IR 4.0), the state has launched the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education and TVET.
“Thus, the outcome of this programme will be a major potential contributor to UTS because UTS has placed TVET as the main agenda where it is in line with the overall education agenda of the state,” he said at the official launch of University Technology Sarawak (UTS) here on Wednesday (Nov 10).
He stressed that it is crucial for the state government to build a solid foundation for economic success and prosperity by placing priority on education.
“This is so that the state can enhance economic strength and facilitate economic growth by increasing the number of highly educated professionals and highly skilled workers, thus reducing the need for reliance on expatriates and foreign workers,” he said.
He added that tertiary education is also important in creating a quality workforce so as to allow Sarawak to be a developed state by 2030.
“Institutions of higher learning play an important role in the process of retraining and re-equipping human resources for all careers to become more relevant according to the changes and needs of the industry,” he said.
On the upgrading of the state’s wholly owned University College of Technology Sarawak (UCTS) as a full-fledged university, of which is now known as UTS, Abang Johari said it is indeed a major achievement for higher education in Sarawak.
“The state government, especially under the administration of Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, has made sure that the university has the best infrastructure with the latest facilities ever since it was established, and to date the university has achieved and maintained the Green Building Index (GBI) rating.
“This is one of the preconditions for the prosperity and obligation of the state government to ensure that all Sarawakians have access to a world-class education system by providing the best infrastructure,” said Abang Johari.
