Do we need a proper monitoring system that bond industry and academia? Preparing for better employability in Malaysia

Abstract

The marriage between industry and academia is globally recognized as beneficial connection for both the parties. The role of university is more projected towards producing right human capital as per the demands of the industry. Whereas, this process is complete only with input of industry related to skill development and R&D activities performed by the universities. However, this dependency is prone to raise issues for both the entities if the relationship is not checked and balanced from time to time through a proper monitoring system. This has direct ramifications on unemployment rate in general and youth/graduate unemployment rate in particular. This research identifies the current practices of university-industry relationship in Malaysian perspective and its effects on youth employability in the country. The National Graduate Employability Blueprint Malaysia 2012-2017 is reviewed in the context of determining loopholes in maintaining the desired relationship between industry and academia. The factor of “monitoring the link between industry and academia” is found most glaring lacunae in the consistency of the bondage between the two parties, and hence resulting in high graduate unemployment rate in the country. Moreover, a review framework of Graduate Employability Framework Malaysia 2012-2017 is proposed to minimize the rift of knowledge transfer between industry and academia through an organized monitoring body. The findings from the literature have been found generously supportive to the instalment of a monitoring system on permanent basis. This measure is seemed most effective in reducing the rising youth unemployment rate in Malaysia.