Latest news with #UniversitiMalaysiaPahang
Free Malaysia Today
2 days ago
- Health
- Free Malaysia Today
30% of PLKN 3.0 trainees fail to report for duty, says Khaled
Defence minister Khaled Nordin said PLKN 3.0 is still in the trial phase, with full implementation expected to begin next year. (Bernama pic) KOTA TINGGI : Around 30% of participants from the first two series of the National Service Training Programme (PLKN) 3.0 failed to report for training due to various reasons, according to defence minister Khaled Nordin. He said the main reasons cited were health issues and offers to pursue higher education. 'So far, each series of PLKN 3.0 has recorded an absentee rate of about 10% to 15%, mostly due to valid reasons such as illness or having just been offered a university placement,' he told reporters after attending the opening ceremony of the Kembara Lestari Kota Tinggi with Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah at Felda Lok Heng Barat here today. Khaled said PLKN 3.0 was still in the trial phase, with full implementation expected to begin next year. The 45-day programme has received positive feedback from participants, particularly on the military training elements which are deemed effective in instilling discipline and building identity. 'Participants from the previous two series gave good feedback and requested that the military training content be improved,' Khaled said.
New Straits Times
7 days ago
- Health
- New Straits Times
Health issues, study commitments among reasons for PLKN 3.0 absentism
KOTA TINGGI: Around 30 per cent of participants from the first two series of the National Service Training Programme (PLKN) 3.0 failed to report for training due to various reasons, said Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin. He said the main reasons cited were health issues and offers to pursue higher education. "So far, each series of PLKN 3.0 has recorded an absentee rate of about 10 to 15 per cent, mostly due to valid reasons such as illness or having just offered a university placement. He said this to reporters after attending the opening ceremony of the Kembara Lestari Kota Tinggi with Universiti Malaysia Pahang Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA) at Felda Lok Heng Barat here today. Khaled said PLKN 3.0 is still in the trial phase, with full implementation expected to begin next year. The programme, which maintains a 45-day training period, has received positive feedback from participants, particularly on the military training elements, which were deemed effective in instilling discipline and building identity. "Participants from the previous two series gave good feedback and requested that the military training content be improved," he said. PLKN 3.0 Series 1/2025 was held at the 515th Territorial Army Regiment Camp in Kuala Lumpur for 45 days, from Jan 12 to Feb 25. Series 2/2025 ran from May 11 to June 24, while Series 3 will take place from Sept 7 to Oct 21 at the 515th Territorial Army Regiment Camp and the 505th Territorial Army Regiment Camp in Pekan, Pahang.
The Star
7 days ago
- Health
- The Star
Health issues, study commitments among reasons 30% skip PLKN 3.0, says Mohamed Khaled
KOTA TINGGI: Around 30% of participants from the first two series of the National Service Training Programme (PLKN) 3.0 failed to report for training due to various reasons, says Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin. He said the main reasons cited were health issues and offers to pursue higher education. "So far, each series of PLKN 3.0 has recorded an absentee rate of about 10% to 15%, mostly due to valid reasons such as illness or having just offered a university placement. He said this to reporters after attending the opening ceremony of the Kembara Lestari Kota Tinggi with Universiti Malaysia Pahang Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA) at Felda Lok Heng Barat here on Thursday (July 17). Mohamed Khaled said PLKN 3.0 is still in the trial phase, with full implementation expected to begin next year. The programme, which maintains a 45-day training period, has received positive feedback from participants, particularly on the military training elements, which were deemed effective in instilling discipline and building identity. "Participants from the previous two series gave good feedback and requested that the military training content be improved," he said. PLKN 3.0 Series 1/2025 was held at the 515th Territorial Army Regiment Camp in Kuala Lumpur for 45 days, from Jan 12 to Feb 25. Series 2/2025 ran from May 11 to June 24, while Series 3 will take place from Sept 7 to Oct 21 at the 515th Territorial Army Regiment Camp and the 505th Territorial Army Regiment Camp in Pekan, Pahang. - Bernama
The Sun
7 days ago
- Health
- The Sun
Health and study reasons why 30% skip PLKN 3.0
KOTA TINGGI: Around 30 per cent of participants in the first two series of the National Service Training Programme (PLKN) 3.0 did not attend training, according to Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin. He stated that health concerns and higher education opportunities were the primary reasons for their absence. Mohamed Khaled explained, 'So far, each series of PLKN 3.0 has recorded an absentee rate of about 10 to 15 per cent, mostly due to valid reasons such as illness or having just offered a university placement.' He shared these details after attending the Kembara Lestari Kota Tinggi event with Universiti Malaysia Pahang Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA) in Felda Lok Heng Barat. PLKN 3.0 remains in its trial phase, with full implementation expected next year. The programme retains a 45-day training period and has received positive feedback, particularly on its military training components. 'Participants from the previous two series gave good feedback and requested that the military training content be improved,' he added. The first series of PLKN 3.0 was held at the 515th Territorial Army Regiment Camp in Kuala Lumpur from January 12 to February 25, while the second series ran from May 11 to June 24. The third series is scheduled from September 7 to October 21 at camps in Kuala Lumpur and Pekan, Pahang. - Bernama
New Straits Times
14-07-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Public universities told to review courses with low employability rates
PUTRAJAYA: Public universities have been instructed to review their academic programmes if the graduate employability (GE) rate falls below 30 per cent. Deputy Higher Education Minister Datuk Mustapha Sakmud said the directive is aimed at ensuring university curricula remain aligned with current industry demands. "We have a policy that any field of study with a GE rate of under 30 per cent must be reviewed by the university. "This is to ensure the future of students is protected by offering only fields with high employability," he said. Previously, it was reported that the Centre for Future Labour Market Studies (EU-Era) found that 78.7 per cent of graduates in the country were not fully prepared for the workforce upon graduation. The 'Job Market Monitor' study also revealed that 52.8 per cent of graduates ended up working in positions that did not match their academic qualifications, with more than half remaining in such roles permanently due to comfort, thereby hindering career advancement. Mustapha said the UPUOnline system now displays the employability rate of each course, enabling students to make better-informed decisions when selecting their field of study. "This gives students the option to choose the best courses right from the start," he said. Among the ministry's efforts to ensure graduates secure jobs aligned with their qualifications is the implementation of the 2u2i academic programme model, which combines on-campus and off-campus learning throughout the study period. He said the 2u2i model meets industry needs as it offers industry-relevant programmes and trains students under actual industry trainers during placement periods. "As of early this year, 135 2u2i programmes have been offered by 19 public universities.. These programmes have shown encouraging employability rates. "For example, the Bachelor of Applied Data Analytics with Honours programme at Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah recorded a 100 per cent GE rate in 2023. "The Diploma in Physiotherapy in the 2u2i mode offered by Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA) recorded a GE rate of 95 per cent last year." He also urged universities to initiate discussions with electrical and electronics (E&E) companies to address mismatches between course content and industry expectations. "There needs to be a strong bridge between the industry and universities to build a robust E&E ecosystem. Companies must also be involved in developing the curriculum and providing necessary equipment. "From our data, the courses are already there in the universities, but there are slight mismatches in the specialisation details. "This is why we are asking universities to sit down with the E&E industry to find out what positions they need and tailor their offerings accordingly. "The courses offered must meet the industry's actual needs so we can design an appropriate curriculum," he said. Mustapha added that, overall, Malaysia is capable of supplying the necessary workforce for E&E industries, citing the good academic performance of graduates and their relatively strong command of English compared with several other Asean countries. However, he said there are still specific areas that require attention from universities to ensure graduates can fill positions offered by foreign-investing E&E companies.
