A stigma of less favorable than another academic path, the perception towards Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) is quickly changing in the past few years. It is seen throughout the world that TVET has become the new hope and the new enabler of good high paying jobs with upward mobility.

It is not necessary now that the conventional academic pathway is the only way forward. This societal stigma is still prevailing in some of the local parents as they perceived TVET as the poor cousin of academic qualifications – this mentality is deemed obsolete now.

Sarawak is very determined to be a developed state by the year 2020 where the industry will shift its demand for high-quality jobs—no longer the low skills, manual jobs – jobs that require a sophisticated technology and value added processes. In order to fulfill this demands, the future employees will need to be qualified and that is where TVET plays a vital role to educate the young minds for the future job market.

Acknowledging its importance in driving the jobs growth in this state under the banner of Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE), AITC College Kuching has geared towards developing the young talents for this cause.

“To date, we have produced around 3000 skilled workers who at least acquires Sijil Kemahiran Malaysia level 2, 3, and 4,” said Sim Iang Boi, the Head of Vocational Education of AITC College Kuching. “For starter, we had identified 10 critical areas comprises of 18 programmes that can be useful for SCORE.” she added.

Established for 15 years, AITC college has gone through a major transformation throughout the years. Situated on a 53-acres land in Muara Tabuan, the college can easily welcome more than 3000 students to its new campus inaugurated in July 2014.

“We also have our sister campuses all around the country such as Klang, Miri, and Sabah. This is the proof that we are serious about developing the talents for the technical job market,” said Sim again. 

Apart from its operational expansion, AITC never compromises on its academic quality. As a testament to its quality, AITC was officially appointed as the satellite campus for Center of Instructor and Advanced Skill Training (CIAST) in Sarawak. This will ensure a rigorous quality assurance for the trainer to hone their teaching skills and abilities. With its competence in management and academic planning, AITC college has been rated 5-star for 12 of its programmes by Jabatan Pembangunan Kemahiran in 2015.

“We are proud that the 5 Stars rating reaffirms the results of our hard work, and we are embracing this recognition as motivation to further improve ourselves. The achievement is yet another testament to our efforts in charting the excellence in technical education” said Sim.

AITC College Kuching also set up a job placements unit exclusively handling job search for trainees who have completed their training. The unit collaborates with industries and signs memorandums of understanding for acceptance of our trainees working in the industries workplace. Besides, trainees of AITC College Kuching will also be exposed to industrial training opportunities (on-the-job training) through their learning journey. This is for the trainees to gain actual working experience by practicing what they have learned at the training center.

“Moving forward, we aspire to work closely with the Ministry of Education to offer high impact programmes for the students. For now, we have started with the Diploma in Oil and Gas Welding Technology and Diploma in Subsea Welding Technology,” said Sim. “This will be the beginning of a new frontier by AITC College Kuching.”

For more information about I-Systems Group of Colleges’ programmes, please visit www.i-systems.edu.my or contact Course Counselor at 082-363787 / 082-369887or SMS to 016 889 3089.Students are encouraged to visit the campus and meet its course counselors at No.1, Taman Muara Tabuan, Jalan Muara Tabuan, 93350 Kuching, Sarawak (Tel: 082-363787/369887).

(Press Release)