Graduates from Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA) educational institutions must be prepared to navigate a rapidly evolving workforce shaped by artificial intelligence (AI), automation, digital economies and global talent competition, said Prof. Ir. Dr. Azman Senin.
Speaking at the Sixth Session of the Majlis Konvokesyen Perdanainstitusi Pendidikan Mara (IPMA) 2026 at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur on 21 May, the President and Chief Executive Officer of Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL) stressed that academic qualifications alone are no longer sufficient in today’s employment landscape.
“Certificates, diplomas and degrees are important, but they are incomplete without real skills, professionalism, resilience, adaptability and the willingness to continue learning,” he said.
The convocation ceremony celebrated 8,449 graduates from TVETMARA institutions, formerly known as Institut Kemahiran MARA (IKM), Kolej Kemahiran Tinggi MARA (KKTM), MARA-Japan Industrial Institute (MJII), as well as graduates from Kolej Profesional MARA.
Prof. Ir. Dr. Azman said MARA graduates must embody four key characteristics, namely professionalism, technical competency, innovation and entrepreneurial thinking to remain competitive and relevant in the future economy.
He noted that technical skills today extend far beyond manual capabilities and now encompass digital literacy, critical thinking, communication skills, creativity and decision-making abilities.
“Skills today are no longer just about hands-on work. They are a combination of technical knowledge, critical thinking, digital capability, communication, creativity and intelligent decision-making,” he said.
At the same time, he encouraged graduates to embrace change and see challenges as opportunities to create impactful solutions rather than waiting for opportunities to come to them.
The ceremony also highlighted the growing impact and relevance of MARA’s TVET ecosystem, with graduate employability for TVETMARA and Kolej Profesional MARA reaching 97.22 percent in 2025.
According to Prof. Ir. Dr. Azman, the achievement demonstrates that MARA education continues to align closely with industry needs and national workforce demands.
