Ahmad Nazif Chose Tvet To Be Successful Modern Farmer

NIBONG TEBAL, Dec 9 (Bernama) -- A keen interest in the field of skills and trust in the marketability of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) made Ahmad Nazif Mohd Nizar choose to pursue a course at the PERDA High Skills Institute or PERDA-TECH, which is an institution under the Penang Regional Development Authority (PERDA).

The 22-year-old's efforts paid off when the Agricultural Engineering Certificate graduate was named the best student at the certificate level and recipient of the Al-Awwam Award, namely for academic excellence in agriculture and engineering.

Ahmad Nazif said he chose to study at PERDA-TECH as it offered the Agriculture Engineering programme, which he has always been interested in since he was young as he wants to be a successful modern farmer.

"I chose the programme due to my interest in agriculture and, through the course, I learned various techniques, technologies as well as modern methods in agriculture which can help increase the income of farmers.

"In addition, we were also exposed to various innovation competitions at PERDA-TECH and this gave us students more space to design something new in agriculture,” he told reporters after the 12th PERDA-TECH Convention here today.

Ahmad Nazif, who is continuing his studies for the Diploma in Agricultural Mechanical Engineering at Politeknik Kota Bharu in Kelantan, is a recipient of the MSAE-SG Green Award 2023 by the Malaysian Society of Agricultural and Food Engineers (MSAE).

Ahmad Nazif said TVET is no longer a second choice but on par with other courses in institutions of higher learning, adding that TVET graduates even have a high demand from employers as many of his friends managed to be employed immediately after graduation.

Meanwhile, another PERDA-TECH graduate chosen as the recipient of the Best Award in the Diploma category and the Ibnu Khaldun Award, which is excellence in academic and co-curriculum, Siti Hajar Rohizat, 24, also admitted that employers are currently eyeing TVET graduates.

The Diploma in Product Design Engineering Technology graduate, who works as an assistant engineer in a factory, said that once she had completed her industrial training, she immediately found a job in the field she studied.

"I initially studied for a Certificate in Mechanical Engineering at PERDA-TECH and, upon completion, was offered a job but I decided to continue studying for a diploma here as I wanted a deeper knowledge of the field,” said Siti Hajar, who aspires to be a TVET lecturer.

Siti Hajar, whose parents run a sundry shop, hopes to continue her studies at a higher level in the future.

-- BERNAMA