Universities need to produce graduates for jobs of the future: Sultan Nazrin

KUALA KANGSAR: Universities face the challenge of producing graduates for jobs which may not exist presently and offer an education that is synonymous with the world of the 'digital generation'.

The Sultan of Perak, Sultan Nazrin Shah said to produce digital minded students, the universities need to adapt to environmental changes and create a paradigm shift to become an active member of the digital ecosystem.

"Universities must produce students who are resilient to cope with changes in technology that will create new jobs and may do away with existing jobs.

"Employers and universities need to collaborate to identify the neccessary skills and develop the curricula," he said at the 9th convocation of Universiti Sultan Azlan Shah (USAS), here today.

A total of 492 graduates received diplomas from Sultan Nazrin.

Universities should also help the nation to become an active player in the digital economy and play the role as a source of innovation and intellectual property.
Sultan Nazrin said the success of e-commerce companies Alibaba of China and Amazon of the United States, is the best example of the internet's role in the digital economy.

When first introduced, the internet was only used as a method to find information (browsing) and correspondence (email), but it has become a medium for business transactions, including via smartphones.

"Digital advertising is a threat to promotion by print. The internet is increasingly becoming a catalyst for the global economy," he added

During a visit to China recently, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak announced the appointment of Alibaba founder Jack Ma as the government's economic adviser on the digital economy to spearhead the development of e-commerce in the country. — Bernama