By: Aida Aziz
IPOH: Politeknik Ungku Omar (PUO), in collaboration with Singapore Polytechnic, has been chosen to host the Learning Express (LeX) program, which will run for 12 days from September 4 to 15, here.
Dr. Shamsuri Abdullah, the director of PUO, stated that LeX has attracted the participation of 64 participants, including students and lecturers from both countries.
He explained that the program aims to preserve the exchange of knowledge and foster new cooperative relationships in the field of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) industry.
“Among the participants are 30 students from Singapore Polytechnic, including four facilitator lecturers led by Keong and Andrew Kon.
“Additionally, the program involves 26 PUO students and four students from Gerik Community College.
“The program has been conducted at PUO and the Orang Asli Ulu Gerik village in Gerik,” he said.
He made these remarks during the Closing Ceremony of the Learning Express (LeX) Program, jointly organized by Singapore Polytechnic and Politeknik Ungku Omar, here on Wednesday.
Furthermore, he added that LeX, which received collaboration from the Perak and Kedah State Department of Orang Asli Development, along with the Hulu Perak and Baling District Orang Asli Development Office, lasted for 12 days.
“The program also includes field studies conducted by the participants involving the Ulu Gerik Orang Asli community.
“It will explore and expose the participants to the life and socio-cultural aspects of the Orang Asli community,” he said.
Moreover, he mentioned that the delegation from Singapore Polytechnic was introduced to the culture and arts of Malaysia through visits to cultural villages and the traditional labu sayong pottery-making process in Kuala Kangsar.
“PUO welcomes this collaborative effort and hopes that it can add value to the nation’s efforts to strengthen TVET.
“As a result of the program’s implementation, it has had a positive impact, with 10 PUO students and Gerik Community College students set to participate in the Youth Model ASEAN Conference in Singapore in October,” he said.
Shamsuri also expressed PUO’s optimism that this program is a proactive step towards realizing the government’s goal of promoting TVET as the primary choice for higher education in Malaysia.
