Tired of being constantly blamed for not preparing graduates for the working environment, an academics movement has taken professional bodies and critics to task, urging them to also address shortcomings.
The Malaysian Academics Movement (Gerak) also said it was willing to initiate discussions with stakeholders, including industry experts, to address issues pertaining to fresh graduates.
Gerak was referring to the comments made by a speaker from the Board of Engineers Malaysia (BEM) at a forum held during the 2022 National Education and Learning Summit, on March 31.
“We in Gerak feel these persistent allegations, that many fresh graduates in Malaysia lacked passion and the ‘right’ attitude, and hence have problems adjusting to the workplace, must not go unanswered,” read its statement to Twentytwo13, earlier today. It was signed by Gerak’s executive committee.
“Graduate engineers are only entitled to be registered as professional engineers upon obtaining ‘such practical experience as may be determined by BEM’. From BEM’s website, it appears that to be registered as a professional engineer, a graduate engineer must have practical experience of not less than three years under the supervision of a professional engineer in the same branch of engineering in which the applicant had his practical experience.
“In addition, the applicant must also show proof of having attended professional development programmes.”
Gerak said that with these additional pre-registration inputs, BEM has the means to correct deficiencies raised at the forum.
“If they persist even after three years of practical experience with a registered professional engineer, the fault may not lie with the new registrant alone, but rather, something that affects the entire profession.”
Gerak highlighted that under the current accreditation procedures, as provided in Section 51 of the Malaysian Qualification Agency Act 2007, associations like the BEM call the shots, dictating which programmes will be accepted as qualifications for admission into the profession.
“The professional body, therefore, determines, not only the post-qualification experience for registration as a professional, but also the university qualifications that are recognised for
that purpose.
“With such control over their profession, surely the BEM must take some responsibility for the shortcomings in the beginner, (and) indeed, to cure them of their deficiencies.
Gerak’s leadership was concerned that the prevailing perception of new entrants into the profession – especially from the engineering professionals themselves – were not supported by hard evidence.
“We would like to stress that academic, and higher education owners’ associations, have a greater responsibility than just joining in the chorus of admonition initiated by professional bodies.
“They claim to provide education that is fit for purpose. The advertisements on billboards across the country of their qualifications, proclaim employability. Hence, they must do more than just make blanket statements regarding the matter.
“There are statistics within their reach that will show the employability of their graduates. Why don’t they reveal that information?”
Gerak said its intention was not “to point fingers at others”.
“There is already too much of that (finger pointing) happening. What we would suggest is that, rather than making these random statements, professional bodies, academic associations, and associations of institutions, should create a forum that includes universities and the Education Ministry, to discuss these important issues.
“Gerak is willing to initiate such a forum,” read the statement.
