Enhancing employability initiatives: Malaysia experience

Graduate employability has been a global concern for all higher education sectors. The Malaysian higher education system is no exception. Currently, the country is experiencing a major education overhaul through the implementation of the National Higher Education Strategic Plan, which was officially launched in August 2007. The above plan delineates the strategic thrusts and critical agendas to enable our tertiary institutions to achieve world class status and at the same time support the national need for quality human capital. Notably, the first focus of this strategic plan puts emphasis on the development of human capital with first class mentality. This paper will share initiatives undertaken by the Malaysian government to enhance graduate employability. A case of a university in Malaysia will be presented to demonstrate how such initiatives are embedded into the university curriculum. These initiatives can be broadly summarized under three themes: academic, co-curricular activities, and industry link.The presentation will conclude with issues and challenges faced in implementing these initiatives