Serdang, October 18: The Faculty of Computer Science and Information Technology (FSKTM), UPM won the first-place position in the UPM Graduate Employability Award 2022. FSKTM achieved a graduate employability rate of 100%, with 83.5% of graduates being employed.

The award was presented at the Opening Ceremony of the UPM Career and Entrepreneurial Carnival MyCareer @ MOHE 2023 held at the Sultan Abdul Samad Library (PSAS) UPM.

According to Associate Professor Dr. Mass Hareeza Ali, Director of the Centre for Entrepreneurial Development and Market Employability (CEM), the award aims to recognize and celebrate the achievements of faculties in realizing the Key Performance Indicator (KPI) set by the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE). This KPI pertains to the graduate employability rate.

• "The definition of graduate employability, as outlined in the Strategic Graduate Employability Plan of the MOHE 2021-2025, refers to graduates who have a career within six (6) months after completing their studies, taking into account whether the graduates are employed, continuing their education, enhancing their skills, or awaiting job placements.

"The criteria for selecting this year's award winner not only consider the overall graduate employability rate but also the percentage of graduates employed after six months of graduation," she explained.

In 2022, a total of eight (8) faculties achieved a 100% graduate employability rate in their respective faculties. Apart from FSKTM, the other seven (7) faculties that also achieved a 100% graduate employability rate were (a) Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (FPV) - (77.7% of graduates employed), (b) School of Business & Economics (SPE) - (77.3% of graduates employed), (c) Faculty of Human Ecology (FEM) - (73.4% of graduates employed), (d) Faculty of Science (FS) - (73.1% of graduates employed), (e) Faculty of Modern Languages & Communication (FBMK) - (71.1% of graduates employed), (f) Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences (FBSB) - (69.1% of graduates employed), and (g) Faculty of Forestry and Environment (FPAS) - (68.0% of graduates employed).

Furthermore, she mentioned that faculties not receiving the award still performed exceptionally well, as the study demonstrated that all 16 faculties at UPM had successfully exceeded the targeted 95% graduate employability rate set by UPM and the 85.4% rate set by the MOHE (RMKe-12).

Meanwhile, Associate Professor Dr. Razali Yaakob, Dean of FSKTM, said the faculty is extremely proud of this achievement, indicating that FSKTM graduates possess the skills required by the industry.

"Moreover, there are proactive graduates who start their own businesses, and some continue their studies. We believe it's not just an academic accomplishment, but also the students' character and self-skills developed through various activities during their campus studies.

"We express gratitude to educators and everyone at UPM who constantly strive to educate and shape our graduates' characters. We also appreciate the efforts of all parties to establish good relationships and collaborate with the industry, through involvement in sharing experiences and skills with students in classrooms, industry visits, and final year projects," he said when interviewed here today.

Previously, based on the KPT Tracer Study 2022 report, UPM ranked first among public universities with a graduate employability rate of 99.4% and a working graduate rate (citizens) of 73.7%. This demonstrated that the study programs offered by UPM are of high quality and meet industry requirements.

All awards were presented by Mrs. Fazidah binti Mustafa, Secretary of the Strategic Planning Division, Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE), and were also attended by Mr. Mahbob Yusof, Chief Librarian of UPM, representing the UPM Management Committee. - CEM

Date of Input: 24/10/2023 | Updated: 09/11/2023 | ludinata