KYS expected to develop technical and vocational education

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KOTA KINABALU: Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili expects Kolej Yayasan Sabah (KYS) to play a pivotal role in the development of technical education in Sabah, particularly in fields involving creativity and innovation.

He said the growth of KYS is critical because the Federal Government had put much emphasis on these fields in the 10th Malaysia Plan.

Ongkili said this is evident from the RM500 million allocation to boost the economy up the value chain through the development and enhancement of technical education and vocational training (TEVT).

“However, in order to move forward, we must be able to work with renowned players and captains of industry on a global basis in terms of technological transfer.

Interesting work: A file picture of Ongkili (right) with KYS chairman Datuk Kamal Quadra (left) and Sabah Resource Development and Information Technology Minister Datuk Yee Moh Chai take a closer look at the work of the college’s students.

“I believe Kolej Yayasan Sabah is heading towards the right direction,” he said when launching the Digital Playground in Island 2011 media art festival at the KYS campus in Sembulan, near here yesterday.

Ongkili was confident that KYS had benefited from engaging with other institutions of higher learning and organisations, including South Korea’s Total Museum of Contemporary Art, Joongang University and Soongsil University, to promote awareness of emerging technologies in digital media.

He was also pleased that KYS, which aspires to become an educational and training centre of excellence in this region, had been successful in collaborating with a number of reputable institutions, either through joint programmes or smart partnerships.

Ongkili said the Science, Technology, and Innovation Ministry awarded KYS RM1.5 million from the eContent Fund in 2008 to produce at least five episodes of animation based on the tales and myths of Mount Kinabalu.

He said the government had also launched the National Creative Industry Policy recently, designed to drive the development of the nation’s creative industries to be more productive.

Ongkili said the policy, centred on three main areas of creative multimedia, arts and culture, and culture heritage, is clearly in sync with what KYS is focusing on.