Smart tri-partite partnership: polytechnic-industry-student

Abstract

The rapid growth of science and technology in Malaysia has changed the demand for graduates with strong soft skills. In 2006, the Malaysian Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) directed all institutions of higher learning (IHL) to further enhance students’ soft skills through the “Kemahiran Insaniah” Curriculum in order to upgrade the students to meet the current scenario of competitive job market demand. Despite continuing efforts made to improve students’ soft skills, the industry commented that graduates had failed to master the soft skills needed in their employment. On top of this, efforts to improve soft skills among students will not be successful without a strong commitment and participation from the students themselves. This paper proposes a smart synergy model of smart tri-partite partnership among polytechnics-industry-students in the industrial training program. The main aim is to create a Smart Tripartite partnership among polytechnic-industry-students to improve the students’ soft skills. This paper emphasises strategies to fill up the existing gaps in this matter. First, the trends of partnerships in industrial training programs among polytechnic-industry and students in Malaysia are analysed. Then feedback and issues gathered from the industrial training program by the Department of Civil Engineering, Politeknik Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah are also reported.