Student Intake For Polytechnics, Community Colleges Shows Increase Over Past Three Years - JPPKK

JOHOR BAHRU, Jan 20 (Bernama) -- The trend of student intake for polytechnics and community colleges has shown encouraging growth over the past three years, reflecting public confidence in technical and vocational education and training (TVET) pathways in the country.

Department of Polytechnic Education and Community Colleges's (JPPKK) director of Student Recruitment and Development Department Azirin Abdul Aziz said that they had just completed student intake for Session 2 early this month while the intake for the Main Session or Session 1 is scheduled to begin around the end of June, as soon as the results of the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) are announced.

“Admission offers will be made after the SPM results are released, and the response for the past three years has been very encouraging.

“Most of the programmes offered focus on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields, technology, and engineering involving various departments and academic disciplines.

"Although overall applications are balanced, we can see higher interest in service-based programmes such as culinary arts and hospitality, as well as programmes under the Department of Commerce such as accounting, trade and logistics," he said.

Azirin said this to reporters after attending the closing ceremony of the National Journalists’ Day (HAWANA) 2025 Tour Programme With Polytechnic Students at Politeknik Ibrahim Sultan (PIS), Pasir Gudang here today, which was officiated by Bernama chief executive officer and HAWANA 2026 Working Committee chairperson Datin Paduka Nur-ul Afida Kamaludin.

Also present were Bernama editor-in-chief and HAWANA 2026 Working Committee deputy chairperson Arul Rajoo Durar Raj; PIS deputy director (Academics) Tengku Nadzion Tengku Ibrahim, who is performing the duties of the PIS director; and Bernama acting deputy editor-in-chief (News Services) and HAWANA 2026 project director Mohd Shukri Ishak.

Besides diplomas, he said, students are also exposed to various value-added programmes such as professional certifications and specialised skills training to complement their expertise according to industry needs.

Commenting on the employability of graduates, he said that so far, graduates from polytechnics and community colleges have not faced major problems in finding employment, but the ministry's current focus is to ensure they receive premium salaries commensurate with their qualifications and skills.

Meanwhile, commenting on the closing ceremony of the National Journalists' Day (HAWANA) 2025 Tour Program With Polytechnic Students, Azirin described the programme as highly beneficial in helping students from polytechnic and community colleges understand the ethics of using social media, particularly in sharing and disseminating information.

He said the programme provided important exposure to students, who are young people actively using social media for promotion and content sharing.

"Today's programme is very useful and beneficial for the students, especially considering they are in a group of young people who actively use social media for promotional posts and other purposes," he said.

Earlier in his speech, Azirin emphasised that although today's youth are excited by the very rapid media developments, they still need guidance to use technology wisely and responsibly. He also touched on the Malaysian Higher Education Blueprint (PPTM) outlined by the Ministry of Higher Education, which emphasises two main pillars: technological advancement and the development of human values.

According to him, PPTM emphasises the use of new technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), biotechnology and quantum technology as the main drivers of curriculum, research and innovation, without neglecting ethical aspects, integrity and character building.

"Although technology is developing rapidly, the development of human values remains the core for producing a generation of nation builders who are knowledgeable, moral and have integrity," he said.

Azirin also expressed appreciation to the Ministry of Communications for its contribution of smart television sets that can be used for various purposes at the participating institutions, and thanked Bernama for its commitment to the success of the programme.

"This 2025 programme, although implemented beyond 2026, remains relevant in fulfilling the mission and goals of empowering the complementary and inseparable roles of the media and society," he added.

--BERNAMA