SERDANG, September 15 - Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) has achieved a graduate employability rate of 99.4% through a study conducted by the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) using the Tracer Study System.

This achievement shows a 4% increase from 95.4% in 2021, surpassing the 95% target for 2022 and the 12th Malaysia Plan (RMK12) target of 85.4%, making UPM one of the highest among public universities in 2022.

UPM's Vice-Chancellor, Datuk Prof. Dr. Mohd Roslan Sulaiman, said that the study indicates that more than half of UPM's graduates in 2022 are working in their respective fields, including 12% in the agriculture, farming, fisheries, forestry, and food industry sectors. 

"A total of 73.7% of UPM's 2022 graduates are employed, and among them, 13.7% are recorded to be receiving premium salaries of RM3,000 and above.

"This achievement is the result of UPM's efforts to realize its Strategic Plan, which aims to add value and enhance the effectiveness of academic programs in line with current needs," he said.

He added that the information released by MOHE proves that all academic programs offered by UPM are still relevant and meet industry requirements.

"Of that total, 10 academic programs have the highest employment status: Bachelor of Communication and Bachelor of Malay Language and Linguistics from the Faculty of Modern Languages and Communication (FBMK), Bachelor of Accounting, Bachelor of Economics, and Bachelor of Business Administration from the School of Business and Economics (SPE), Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (FPV), Bachelor of Human Development Sciences, Faculty of Human Ecology (FEM), Bachelor of Agricultural Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture (FP), Bachelor of Science in Biology with Honors, Faculty of Science (FS), and Bachelor of Human Resource Development Sciences, Faculty of Educational Studies (FPP)," he said.

Meanwhile, the Director of the Entrepreneurship and Graduate Employability Development Center (CEM) UPM, Associate Professor Dr. Mass Hareeza Ali @ Hamid, said that this achievement is the result of the high commitment and various efforts of various parties in conducting various career-enhancement programs, such as the organization of Career & Entrepreneurship Carnival Programs, Graduate Employability Intervention Programs such as PENJANA KPT-CAP, KPT-PACE, and many more.

"UPM also encourages students to learn while working through the UPM Hire Platform (Student Service Program) developed by CEM, which offers part-time job services.

"It is not only aimed at helping students earn extra pocket money but also exposes students to soft skills such as entrepreneurship to make it easier for them to pursue or create jobs after graduation," she said.

Furthermore, 4.5% of UPM graduates continue their careers as entrepreneurs after completing their studies.

Earlier, UPM received the Graduate's Choice Employer (GCA) 2023 Award and the Employer's Choice University in the public university sector through a survey conducted by Talentbank agency. – CEM UPM

Date of Input: 15/09/2023 | Updated: 22/10/2023 | ludinata