KUCHING: Graduates of Twintech College Sarawak graduates are reminded to continue acquiring knowledge and skills even long after their college days to make themselves relevant in this competitive labour market.

CONGRATULATIONS: Daud presents the best student award to Siti (left), while vice chancellor Professor Dr Noridah Ibrahim and Kho (right) look on. — Photo by Jeffery Mostapa

Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department Datuk Daud Abdul Rahman, in making the call, said education acquired from the college was only a foundation needed to meet the job requirement.

“Graduates must continue enhancing their knowledge and skills in their respective careers to remain relevant in the competitive employment market and challenging work environment.

“This is due to the fact that what you’ve learned from the college may be different from what is practised in the working world,” he said at the college’s fifth convocation yesterday.

About 100 graduates received their degrees, diplomas and foundation/matriculation certificates in international business, computer science, technology management, business (finance and management), business and information technology and management.

Daud said the government had always put education as its top priority because an educated workforce was the key to develop the country and attract foreign investors.

Every year, the government allocated large chunk of its budget for the development of primary, secondary and tertiary education, and financial aid for needy students to ensure that they have equal chances in education, particularly those in the rural areas.

Meanwhile, the college chief operating officer, Joycelynn Kho, said the college would continue to provide quality education and ensure the rate of unemployment among its graduates was low.

She said the college recently obtained accreditation from Malaysia Quality Assurance and pledged to deliver standard and quality education to all students irrespective of who they were.

Meanwhile, the college best student awards went to Dayang Siti Nur Intan Baizura who graduated in Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, Bong Sze Ping from the Diploma In Business (Finance) programme, and Noraisah Saha from the Foundation in Business and Information Technology programme.

Kuching-born Siti is a state athlete, who throughout her study years, had represented Sarawak in the cycling event, and took part in Sea Run 2001.

She scored Grade Point Average (GPA) 3.94 and Cumulative GPA 3.75 in her final semester for her degree programme.

Siti said it was initially tough to juggle her time between studying and (cycle) training but over time managed to strike a balance in both areas.

Growing up with three bothers, she said the boys introduced her to cycling, and had been taking part in competitions since 1997.

“I took part in Sukma 2000, 2002 and 2004 for the mountain bike and road racing events. I started college in 2002 and after classes in the day, I would spend several hours in the evening to train,” she said.

The 2002 Sukma bronze medalist said she planned to further her post-graduate study next year.

Her excellent academic and sports performance has also secured her teaching post at the college.