Introduction

In 2020, the Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia (MOHE/KPT) was granted approval for funding under the National Economic Recovery Plan (PENJANA KPT–Career Advancement Programme, PENJANA KPT-CAP). This programme is structured to provide reskilling and upskilling, exposure to the gig economy, and entrepreneurship pathways, while offering graduates opportunities for job placement. The main objective of the programme is to reduce the impact of the pandemic on graduate employability in the country.

Following this initiative, the PENJANA KPT-CAP Application System was developed under the Graduates Reference Hub for Employment and Training (GREaT) Portal, Ministry of Higher Education. The system aims to enable eligible Malaysian graduates from public universities, polytechnics, and community colleges to submit applications for the various programmes offered under PENJANA KPT-CAP with greater ease and efficiency. The purpose of this system is to simplify access for qualified Malaysian citizens to participate in career advancement opportunities and to improve the marketability of graduates through a more organized digital platform provided by the Ministry.

Objectives

The PENJANA KPT-CAP Application System is intended to monitor and track programme offerings by Higher Education Institutions (IPT), the implementation of programmes by appointed organizing companies, the number of applications and offers, participant attendance, and the performance of allocated expenditure. All data on programme offerings and execution collected in a structured reporting format will be submitted to the skills enhancement coordinator under PENJANA, namely Human Resource Development Fund / Pembangunan Sumber Manusia Berhad (HRDF/HRDF), Ministry of Human Resources.

The system has also been integrated with the Graduate Tracer Study System (SKPG) of the Ministry of Higher Education, which stores verified graduate information from 2006 onward. Through this facility, graduates are able to apply for PENJANA KPT-CAP programmes without re-entering personal details or waiting for manual verification. Users only need to log in using their national identification number (new IC) as unique identification, as all records in SKPG have already been reviewed and validated by IPT during the year of convocation.

Way Forward

The system will be expanded to Private Higher Education Institutions (IPTS) to enable both IPTS and their graduates to apply for programmes under PENJANA KPT-CAP. Modules for programme offerings and implementation reporting are currently being improved to make the platform more flexible and modular in handling highly dynamic programmes resulting from the rise of COVID-19 cases and the enforcement of the Movement Control Order (MCO/PKP).

In addition, the application system will be linked to the MyMoheS System of the Ministry of Higher Education, which compiles final-year student information from public universities, polytechnics, and community colleges. This integration will allow eligible final-year students to be verified through the PENJANA KPT-CAP system, thereby giving them early access to apply for the relevant career advancement programmes.

Impact

The development of this system has had the following positive impacts:

Graduates:

1. Able to access PENJANA KPT-CAP applications quickly and easily without filling personal information or waiting for verification.
2. Can check programme eligibility and obtain the latest offerings through email notifications sent periodically.

IPT:

1. Can offer programmes, update programme information, monitor applications, and generate implementation reports directly via the system.
2. Able to monitor the performance of organizing companies appointed on behalf of IPT.

KPT:

1. Gains fast access to verified data for preparation of reports and feedback.
2. Can analyze trends to improve policies and mechanisms of programme execution.
3. Able to generate structured reports for stakeholders.

HRDF:

1. Can access data efficiently for skills enhancement reporting under PENJANA.
2. Able to prepare and submit implementation reports to the Ministry of Finance / Ministry of Finance.

More Information

Name: Mrs. Salwati Badroddin

Telephone No.: 03-88705320

Emel:            salwati.bad@mohe.gov.my 

Name:         Mrs. Hanim Binti Sharom

Telephone No.: 03-88706914

Emel:          hanim.s@mohe.gov.my