‘Most graduates lacking in problem-solving skills’

 

(Bernama) – Most of today’s university graduates are lacking in skills, especially problem solving skills needed in the workplace, said MK Land Holdings Berhad chairman Tan Sri Mustapha Kamal Abu Bakar.

 

He said when interviewing potential new workers for his company, he found that many graduates did not have the knowledge about the job they applied for, let alone the relevant skills, experience and qualifications.

 

“Some of the graduates were clueless about how to work with colleagues and did not know about the right time management system,” he said in his special briefing titled ‘Empowering Youth for Nation Building’ to staff of the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) here on Tuesday.

 

Present were Bernama chairman Datuk Abdul Rahman Sulaiman, Editor-in-Chief Datuk Yong Soo Heong, Deputy Editor-in-Chief (Domestic News Service) Datuk Zulkifli Salleh and Deputy Editor-in-Chief (Economic News Service) Datuk Zakaria Abd Wahab.

 

Mustapha Kamal said apart from being uncreative, the graduates were also unable to carry out proper presentations.

 

Hence, he advised graduates not to focus solely on improving their academic performance, but to also improve their soft skills, including their etiquette and judgement skills.

 

He said young workers should also be able to take responsibility while discharging their duties.

 

“Sometimes, people do not understand the real meaning of responsibility even though they hold power. Hence, they have no accountability to do their level best in discharging their duties,” he said.

 

Mustapha Kamal said he also hoped that the younger generation of workers could practice the culture of integrity in line with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s aspiration as they were the assets of the country.