The next generation of the Temerloh district in Pahang is set to benefit from enhanced higher education and career pathways, particularly in high-demand sectors related to Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), and the Fourth Industrial Revolution (IR 4.0).
This comes following the formalisation of a collaboration between Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL) and the Temerloh District Education Office (PPD), marked during the Temerloh SPM High Achievers Programme (TSHAPE) Symposium 2025 held at UniKL Malaysia France Institute (UniKL MFI).
The document exchange ceremony was represented by Prof. Ts. Dr. Zalizah Awang Long, UniKL Deputy President (Student Development & Campus Lifestyle), and Mr. Zulkifli Mat Nasir, District Education Officer of Temerloh PPD.
Under this collaboration, a series of briefing sessions will be conducted for all secondary school students throughout the Temerloh District, introducing them to study opportunities at UniKL, ranging from Foundation and Diploma to Bachelor’s Degree programmes.
Student assessments will be conducted by UniKL based on the mutually agreed-upon ‘Mapping Process’.
Prof. Ts. Dr. Zalizah stated that UniKL’s Marketing, Student Recruitment and Admission Division, widely known as MeSRA, is actively involved in programmes such as “Sharing Sessions,” which offer students a deeper understanding of the academic pathways available at UniKL.
“It is hoped that these sessions will spark students’ interest in the fields of science and technology offered at UniKL,” she said.
Student enrolment data from the Temerloh District shows a strong upward trend in admissions to UniKL.
Between January 2023 and January 2025, student enrolment from the Temerloh District increased by 65%, particularly in Diploma and Bachelor’s Degree programmes.
In 2023, 34 students from Temerloh enrolled at UniKL (4 in Foundation programmes, 8 in Diploma, and 22 in Bachelor’s Degree programmes).
In 2024, the number rose to 55 students (7 in Foundation, 11 in Diploma, and 37 in Bachelor’s Degree programmes).
Schools that contributed to this rising number of enrolments include Sekolah Menengah Agama Al-Khairiah, SMK Seri Tualang, SMK Temerloh, SMK Abu Bakar, SMK Seberang Temerloh, and SMK Temerloh Jaya.
“These figures clearly show that UniKL is becoming a preferred institution for higher education among students and parents in the Temerloh District. I sincerely hope this collaboration continues in the future, as it provides significant benefits for students,” she added.
