Co-Author: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tong Woei Yenn
In celebrating six decades of nation-building through education, training, and Bumiputera empowerment, Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA) marked another significant milestone through the successful organisation of the Forum Pendidikan MARA 60.
It served as a strategic platform that brought together thought leaders, policymakers, academicians, industry captains, alumni, and future talents to discuss the direction of Malaysia’s human capital development.
Organised by Universiti Kuala Lumpur in conjunction with MARA’s 60th Anniversary Celebration themed Menjunjung Amanah, the high-impact forum was held at World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur and attracted more than 1,000 participants from across the country.
More than a commemorative event, the forum served as a strategic discourse platform connecting MARA’s six-decade educational legacy with the future demands of globalisation, digital transformation, artificial intelligence (AI), innovation, and sustainable human capital development.
Through a series of forward-looking discussions, the forum reflected MARA’s enduring aspiration to strengthen education and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) as catalysts for national progress.
Towards the Next 100 Years of MARA
The opening session, Forum Ulung MARA 60: Menjunjung Amanah ke Arah 100 Tahun MARA, featured an influential panel comprising Datuk Wira Dr. Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki, Prof. Ulung Datuk Dr. Harith Ahmad, and Dato’ Prof. Dr. Adeeba Kamarulzaman, moderated by Dr Mohd Hafizi Shamsudin.
The session explored how MARA’s educational ecosystem must evolve amid rapidly shifting global realities shaped by technological disruption, geopolitical uncertainties, and AI-driven economies. Beyond academic excellence and technological mastery, the panellists collectively highlighted the need for future education systems to nurture ethical leadership, identity, spirituality, resilience, and social responsibility.
A key highlight came from Datuk Wira Dr. Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki, who outlined his vision of a future-ready MARA ecosystem built upon self-reliance, sustainability, and global competitiveness. He stressed that stronger collaborations between MARA, industries, educational institutions, and strategic partners are essential to widen the impact of Bumiputera empowerment initiatives.
He further emphasised the importance of cultivating a strong sense of belonging among MARA students and alumni, encouraging future generations to contribute back to society and the ecosystem that helped shape their success.
“We want MARA students not only to succeed for themselves, but to return and contribute to the ecosystem — with a strong sense of belonging, self-reliance, and the ability to become global players,” he remarked.
Expanding MARA’s Presence on the Global Stage
The second session, Mengukuhkan Jejak MARA di Pentas Dunia, shifted the focus towards globalisation and the international competitiveness of Bumiputera talents.
The panel featured distinguished MARA alumni and internationally recognised professionals, including Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar, Dato’ Kamarul Redzuan Muhamed, Prof. Dato’ Ir. Faisal Rafiq Mohamd Adikan, Dr Ahmad Syahid A. Fawzal, and Leia Mayssa Masyerin.
The discussion highlighted MARA’s longstanding strength in producing globally competitive Bumiputera graduates while addressing the growing need to prepare future talents with stronger communication skills, global exposure, adaptability, and industry-relevant competencies.
Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar emphasised that educational excellence today must extend beyond academic achievements alone. Instead, institutions must produce graduates capable of navigating global challenges, adapting to change, and contributing meaningfully at the international level.
UniKL at the Forefront of TVET Transformation
As Malaysia continues strengthening its high-skilled workforce agenda, the third session, TVET @ MARA Towards High-Skilled Human Capital Development, underscored Universiti Kuala Lumpur’s strategic role in advancing the TVET @ MARA ecosystem.
Moderated by Prof. Ir. Dr. Azmi Hassan, the panel brought together Ir. Dr. Mahzan Teh, Gregers Reimann, and Michele Dossi.
Centred around the concept of “Skills as the New Currency”, the session highlighted the growing importance of industry-academia collaboration in ensuring TVET graduates remain future-ready, technologically competent, and globally competitive.
The discussion also reflected the increasing demand for highly skilled talent aligned with High Growth, High Value (HGHV) industries, particularly in areas driven by automation, AI, digitalisation, and advanced manufacturing.
Driving National Human Capital Development
Beyond facilitating discussions, Universiti Kuala Lumpur played a central role in coordinating the forum’s overall execution, including strategic engagement with industries, academic documentation, and the publication of an ISBN-indexed proceedings book that will serve as an official reference for the forum’s outcomes and recommendations.
The successful organisation of Forum Pendidikan MARA 60 further reinforces UniKL’s commitment towards strengthening national education, advancing TVET transformation, and producing future generations who are not only academically and technically competent, but also grounded in strong values, leadership, identity, and integrity.
As MARA commemorates 60 years of empowering communities through education, the forum symbolised more than a celebration of past achievements — it reflected a collective commitment to shaping the next century of inclusive, future-ready, and globally competitive human capital development for Malaysia.
