STUDY COMMITTEE MEETING AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE POSTGRADUATE CERTIFICATE PROGRAM IN CENTER FOR MODERN LANGUAGES

KUALA LUMPUR - The Centre for Modern Languages (CML) at the Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA) conducted a Study Committee Meeting at Seri Pacific Hotel, Kuala Lumpur on 24 February 2024 with a few industrial experts to obtain feedback about the current curriculum and to cater the needs for the development of postgraduate program that align closely with the industry demands.

The meeting was conducted from 9.00 am to 12.00 pm on 24 February 2024 at Anggerik Room, Seri Pacific Hotel, Kuala Lumpur. The meeting was chaired by Lt. Kol. Professor Ir. Ts. Dr. Ahmad Ziad Sulaiman, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and International Affairs), Professor Ts. Dr. Kamal Zuhairi bin Zamli, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research & Innovation) and the Dean of CML, Associate Professor Dr. Nik Aloesnita Nik Mohd. Alwi. The meeting also involved a few academic staff, including the head of departments and English language instructors.

The objective of this meeting was to obtain views and advice from the committee about the courses offered by CML. Their views are important to ensure academic excellence and high-quality academic programs that will contribute to more competent graduates in the industry. In the opening speech, Lt. Kol. Prof. Ir. Ts. Dr. Ahmad Ziad Sulaiman highlighted that CML plays a big role in upholding the university’s mission and vision to produce graduates who are not only knowledgeable in technology, but also proficient in language and communication. In this globalisation era, there is a need for good communication skills across languages and cultural boundaries. In addition to a good STEM education, 21st-century abilities encompass a variety of soft skills and dispositions, such as cross-cultural awareness, cooperation, critical thinking, and problem-solving (Kennedy & Sundberg, 2020). Companies are moving forward to extend their operations outside the local market to tap new opportunities and resources. Effective communication allows them to connect with customers and partners from different linguistic and cultural backgrounds, as well as being able to navigate these differences and build strong relationships. Therefore, acknowledging the importance of language and communication in producing competent graduates is a strategic investment for developing technological industries.
In this meeting, the team had the opportunity to meet Mr. Mohd Jeffery Abdul Manaf, Senior Director of Production from Infineon Technologies Production and Mr. Ahmad Thibraani bin Termizi, Senior Project Manager from OSRAM-Opto Semiconductors Sdn. Bhd. These professionals provided valuable insights into the skills and competencies that are in demand in the industry. Their input is expected to play a significant role in tailoring the Postgraduate Certificate program to bridge the gap between academic and industry requirements. Moving forward, the development team is committed to expanding this collaborative effort to include other key industries pertinent to the new program, ensuring a comprehensive and industry-relevant educational experience.

Furthermore, this initiative aligns with the UMPSA Strategic Plan for 2021-2025, which focuses on achieving academic excellence by providing high-quality academic programs that will contribute to more competent graduates in the industry. Local graduates should be able to progress themselves and be adaptable to the changing IR 4.0 trend in work competency, new knowledge, and expertise to satisfy the new employment needs in IR 4.0. (Abdulah et.al, 2020). As this initiative progresses, we are optimistic that the Postgraduate Certificate program being developed will be of high quality and meet the industry requirements. We also hope the program opens doors for enrolment soon.
For further details about the development of the new Postgraduate Certificate program, interested individuals or organisations can contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

References:
Abdullah, Q. A., Humaidi, N., & Shahrom, M. (2020). Industry revolution 4.0: the readiness of graduates of higher education institutions for fulfilling job demands. Romanian Journal of Information Technology & Automatic Control/Revista Română de Informatică și Automatică, 30(2).
Kennedy, T. J., & Sundberg, C. W. (2020). 21st century skills. Science education in theory and practice: An introductory guide to learning theory, 479-496.

Prepared by:
Siti Norzaimalina Abd Majid and Nur Syafawati Sabuan