Kuala Nerus—Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) has received a visit from YB Dato’ Dr Noraini Ahmad, Minister of Higher Education, as part of the Ministry of Higher Education Outreach Programme for East Coast Higher Education Institutions (HEI).  

Dato’ Noraini said that the visit was made to hear the aspirations of UMT staff, lecturers, and students and also to identify areas that the ministry can help improve.

During her speech, she said that 60,000 students have been sent home during the Movement Control Order (MCO) involving a cost of 16 million ringgit, RM1.8 million of which was given to UMT to carry out the operation.

She also said that the digitalization of higher learning must be well-implemented by taking into account the challenges faced by each HEI. There is a need to upgrade public universities’ infrastructures and infostructures, such as internet access, WIFI coverage, and mobile devices, to enhance the online teaching and learning.  

As such, the ministry is working together with Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission as well as Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation to come up with a suitable package to help students participate in the online teaching and learning.  

Dato’ Noraini said that the ministry is preparing the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for students to return to campus as directed by the National Security Council. “The date for students to return is being discussed,” she said.

In addition, the ministry has taken the initiative to ask other ministries and agencies for their involvement in helping graduating students when they decide to further their studies, find employment, or become entrepreneurs, she said.      

Dato’ Noraini also highlighted that the ministry has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with National Higher Education Fund Corporation and with Social Security Organization (PERKESO) for the placement of 4600 graduates. A total of 3000 more graduates will be placed in the Training Unit in cooperation with Ministry of Human Resources.

The proposal to place graduates at relevant agencies was also discussed during the Economic Action Council (EAC) in an effort to hep them secure employment after graduation. Also discussed was the decision on the merger of UMT and UnisZA, which was her main agenda after being appointed as the Minister of Higher Education.

She hoped that the decision to cancel the merger will enable UMT to become a university that focuses on aquatic resources and marine lives as well as a point of reference at the regional level.

UMT Vice Chancellor Professor Dato’ Dr Nor Aieni Mokhtar in her speech thanked Dato’ Noraini for visiting UMT and making time to meet its campus community, and for considering various views before making an important decision on UMT-UnisZa merger.

She added that UMT has constantly given ideas, suggestions, and positive feedback to issues related to education post-COVID-19. Students’ attendance of 92 percent for online classes has reflected UMT’s success in the teaching and learning.  

“I hope that all the suggestions involving the teaching and learning will be of help to the ministry,” she said.

Present at the event were principal officers of UMT, Deputy Secretary General (Policies), Higher Education Director General, and Chairman of UMT Board of Directors Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Shamsul Azhar Abbas.

The session was the ministry’s second engagement with universities in the East Coast after Universiti Malaysia Pahang.  

Publshed by:

Corporate Communication Centre
Universiti Malaysia Terengganu