FS Graduates Excel through Professional Certification Programs

DR. NURASHIKIN IHSAN

Prepared by: Dr. Nurashikin Ihsan, Dr. Nazrin Abd. Aziz & Dr. Fazilah Manan

Recent graduates of the Faculty of Science at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) have achieved a significant milestone in their professional journeys. They have secured positions that align with their academic expertise, thanks to the completion of rigorous professional certification programs. Specifically, they have completed programs in Quality Management System (QMS) Lead Auditing (ISO 9001) and Food Safety Lead Auditing (ISO 22000:2018). These certifications have played a pivotal role in their success.

Five-day training session of KPT-PACE Professional Certification Programs. Mr. William giving the opening for the FSMS Lead Auditor Course.

The intensive face-to-face courses were conducted from July 24 to 28, 2023. Expert trainers from the distinguished company SGS (M) Sdn. Bhd. imparted knowledge to fifty final-year students from the Department of Biosciences and the Department of Chemistry. The program was a success, and the students recently celebrated their graduation at UTM’s 67th convocation in November 2023.

Trainer from SGS (M) Sdn. Bhd., Ms. See Lee Leing, giving the introduction to ISO9001:2015 QMS Lead Auditor Course.

Participants of QMS Lead Auditor program at Al-Dinawari Hall, Department of Biosciences, Faculty of Science.

Participants of FSMS Lead Auditor program at Hall 1, Department of Biosciences, Faculty of Science.

The esteemed Coordinators of Graduate Employability Committees in the Department of Biosciences at the Faculty of Science, along with UTM’s Office of Undergraduate Studies (UGS), have carefully organized some transformative initiatives. These accomplishments can be attributed to Malaysia’s Ministry of Higher Education’s Professional Certification (KPT-PACE) Program, which is generously funded by the Ministry of Higher Education.

The professional certifications, such as QMS and Food Safety Lead Auditor, have had a significant impact on the employment prospects of graduates. Within a period of three months after acquiring these certifications, many graduates have reported securing multiple job interviews and receiving at least three offers per candidate. The feedback from these graduates has been overwhelmingly positive, with expressions of gratitude for the competitive edge conferred by these certifications in the job market. According to their testimonials, the professional certifications have not only set them apart from other candidates but also facilitated unprecedented opportunities for career growth. One graduate remarked, “The professional certificates obtained from the program truly distinguished us from other job applicants. They have emerged as a pivotal differentiator, rendering us highly sought after within a short timeframe.”

Participants of KPT-PACE Food Safety Lead Auditors Certification Program with the trainer, Mr. William (front row, 5 from left) and Biosciences Graduate Employability Coordinator, Dr. Nurashikin (front row, 4 from left).

The industry relevance of these certifications has been instrumental in the graduates’ success. The current surge in demand for professionals holding QMS and Food Safety Lead Auditor certifications positions UTM graduates favourably to meet industry requirements. As UTM continues to champion pioneering programs that bridge the academia-industry gap, the success of these graduates stands as a testament to the university’s commitment to producing highly skilled and industry-ready professionals. The anticipated cascading effect of this achievement is expected to inspire future student cohorts to pursue similar opportunities and certifications, thereby fortifying UTM’s reputation as a centre for academic excellence and career success.