PETALING JAYA: Adaptability and agility are no longer enough in the fast-changing workplace as Malaysian graduates must be able to lead change to remain marketable in any industry.
Speaking during the “Minds for Malaysia: Bridging the skills gap” virtual conference today, FMT managing director Azeem Abu Bakar said the ability to lead changes could be a crucial skillset for graduates in the post-pandemic era.
“Things are always shifting and changing. The Covid-19 pandemic is a case in point.
“Graduates must be able to solve problems,” he said.
Azeem added that those with a “problem-solving” mindset could survive in any industry.
“Find a problem to solve and the rest will fall in place and eventually you will lead the change.
“Our country is no longer growing at the rate we used to before. We do not have major hi-tech multinational companies to drive the economy the way South Korea is being driven by Samsung, LG, Kia and Hyundai.
“Therefore the demands for Industrial Revolution (IR 4.0) skills in our country are not as strong yet,” he said, adding that graduates must be aware of this situation and act accordingly.
Separately, Senator Jaziri Alkaf Abdillah Suffian in his keynote address said students must have the right mindset to remain relevant in this fast-paced world.
“They need to equip themselves with 21st century skills and be able to adapt to the future,” he said.
Another panellist, Cosmopoint Group of Colleges chief executive officer Najmie Noordin, said the current education system, however, was too rigid and did not prepare students for the fast-changing world.
He said the education system only produced students who were good on paper.
“Agility and adaptability are not something you can see on paper.
“Universities must provide courses and programmes that are in demand for the current and future job market. That’s how they can start producing employable graduates.”
Meanwhile, Nadiah Tan Abdullah, chief human resources officer of SP Setia Berhad, said students should not be afraid to expose themselves to new opportunities.
“Young people should have a hunger for opportunities. You must learn to grab whatever opportunities that come. This is the time for you to look for new experiences.”