University Is Not the Only Path to Success, Mas Ermieyati Urges Youth to Consider TVET

PETALING JAYA, AUGUST 2026 — University should no longer be viewed as the only route to academic or career success, as Malaysia’s changing economy creates wider opportunities for young people with technical and vocational skills, according to Masjid Tanah MP Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin.

Mas Ermieyati said students who do not receive an offer from a public university should not consider themselves failures or assume their dreams have ended. Instead, they should explore the many education, training and skills-based pathways available to build their future.

Her remarks followed the release of public university admission results for the 2026/2027 academic session, which showed that 25,783 STPM and equivalent qualification holders did not receive an offer from the country’s 20 public universities.

A total of 107,875 applications were submitted through UPUOnline for the 2026/2027 intake. Of these, 82,092 candidates, or 76.1%, successfully received offers for bachelor’s degree programmes, while 25,783 applicants were unsuccessful.

Mas Ermieyati said the unsuccessful applicants still have numerous alternatives to continue their education and prepare for employment.

She argued that society has traditionally placed too much emphasis on university qualifications as the main symbol of academic and professional success, even though the modern economy requires a much broader range of skills.

Mas Ermieyati highlighted Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) as one of the strongest alternatives for young Malaysians.

She said Malaysia is increasingly moving towards an economy driven by technology, automation, digitalisation and high-value industries, resulting in stronger demand for workers with technical skills and specialised competencies.

For that reason, she said TVET should be regarded as a pathway equal in value to conventional university education rather than being treated as a second choice.

Mas Ermieyati cited Higher Education Ministry statistics showing that polytechnic and community college graduates each recorded a 98.8% employment rate in 2024, compared with 94.9% among public university graduates.

She said the figures demonstrate that employers are increasingly evaluating candidates based not only on academic qualifications but also on their practical skills and competencies.

Industries require workers who can operate advanced technology, maintain technical systems, manage sophisticated machinery and contribute directly to productivity improvements, she added.

TVET graduates can also enter the workforce earlier in many cases because their training is designed to match current industry requirements.

Career opportunities in skills-based industries are continuing to expand.

Mas Ermieyati said recent data showed that more than 343,000 TVET-related job opportunities were created during the first six months of 2026, offering an average monthly salary of around RM3,658.

She said the figures show that skills-based career pathways can provide not only broad employment opportunities but also competitive income potential.

Demand is expected to remain strong as Malaysia expands industries including semiconductors, data centres, electric vehicles, renewable energy, oil and gas, and industrial automation.