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Academy empowers youth with drone piloting course

UniMAP TVET ecosystem aligned with industry needs DA NANG: Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP) has built a Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) ecosystem that brings learning closer to industry needs, offering 54 courses, six professional certifications, nine industry laboratories and three teaching factories through its TVET centre. The Raja Muda of Perlis Tuanku Syed Faizuddin Putra Jamalullail, in his capacity as UniMAP Chancellor, said the centre has seven certified instructors and offers training encompassing industrial training, work-based learning, micro-credentials and professional certification, as well as upskilling and reskilling programmes. “The three teaching factories provide students and trainees with opportunities to undergo learning experiences that closely replicate real world industrial environments,“ he said. He was speaking when granting an audience to Deputy Consul (Education) of the Consulate General of Malaysia Koh Bee Ching in Ho Chi Minh City, in conjunction with UniMAP’s International Leadership Mobility (ILM) programme yesterday. He added that the strength of the “teaching factory” concept lay in its ability to transform the campus into an industrial simulation environment. “Students do not merely learn theory but are also given opportunities to develop practical skills and gain an understanding of actual industrial workflows. “The approach complements UniMAP’s strengths as a technical university and helps produce graduates who are both job-ready and future-ready.” Meanwhile, Koh said UniMAP’s technical and TVET capabilities offered significant potential for expansion through international university industry networks. “UniMAP possesses distinct strengths as a technical university, particularly in engineering, technology and TVET, which are closely aligned with industry needs. “These strengths offer significant potential for expansion through university-industry networks in Vietnam and the wider Asean region.“ – Bernama

o Institution aims to equip students with practical skills to meet evolving demands

Ű BY KIRTINEE RAMESH newsdesk@thesundaily.com

PETALING JAYA: Once dismissed as a pathway for students who could not keep up with conventional academics, technical and vocational education and training (TVET) is taking flight into a new era, preparing Malaysians for industries being transformed by drones, artificial intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies. At HEE Tech Academy, students as young as 16 are being trained not merely to fly drones, but also to understand how the technology could be applied to real-world challenges, from agriculture and infrastructure inspections to search and rescue. The academy, which began operations in 2023, offers the Malaysian Skills Certificate Level 2 in Drone Piloting, alongside modular and short courses covering drone technology, repair and maintenance, programming and AI. Centre manager Ahmad Syazrin Nasaruddin said the focus was on equipping students with practical skills that matched the rapidly changing demands of industry. “It is not only about learning how to fly a drone. Students need to understand maintenance, operation and how drones could be applied in different industries.” The academy’s eight-month programme is designed to produce competent drone operators with technical knowledge, while exposing them to the technology’s industrial applications. Ahmad said the programme follows the National Occupational Skills Standard, which is developed based on industry needs and occupational demand. He added that the protocol ensures TVET programmes remain aligned with the skills employers require, rather than training

Ahmad said drones could reduce the need for individuals to carry out dangerous or physically demanding work, while improving speed and precision. – BERNAMAPIC

is important because not every young person excels in a conventional classroom. “Some people are talented in studies, while others are talented in skills. TVET gives them another option.” He expressed belief that the perception of vocational education as a route for those who “failed” academically needs to change. The academy is also looking beyond drones. Its director Tan Heng Meng said it plans to expand into other skills, including welding and areas linked to the oil and gas and construction industries. He added that the broader objective is to help Malaysians develop at least one practical skill that could complement their academic qualifications. “Even if you have a degree, you can still have a skill. One person, one skill.” The demand for drone-related skills is being driven by the technology’s expanding applications across industries. Ahmad said drones could reduce the need for individuals to carry out dangerous or physically demanding work, while improving speed and precision. He said in agriculture, for instance, drones could support precision farming.

students for jobs that do not exist. He also said the academy currently has a capacity of about 50 students at a time, with younger students making up most of its full time intake. However, he said its appeal extends beyond school leavers. Ahmad said its short courses also attract experienced workers seeking to convert their existing skills and experience into certification, giving them a pathway to remain relevant as technology changes the nature of work. He added that for students from lower income families, financing could also make the eight-month programme more accessible. The academy said eligible students may apply for financing through the Skills Development Fund Corporation, with the programme fee listed at about RM7,850. Under the financing pathway, eligible students may also receive allowances, including a monthly allowance of up to RM800 and transport assistance, subject to applicable requirements and approval. The academy also said the financing is a loan rather than a grant and is not automatically guaranteed to every B40 student. For senior leadership consultant Jude Martin, making such opportunities accessible

Education retains its importance in the Malaysian landscape for parents, students and stakeholders. The changes are fast paced with new developments in new fields of study such as cybersecurity, data protection, augmented and virtual reality, machine learning in education, digital education and artificial Intelligence. Leading the way are universities, who are invited to showcase their latest programmes, curriculum and content in our Education Focus for 2026.

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