The UK-based Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) has announced that it has recognised the Kepala Batas Community College’s Technology Centre for Hybrid and Electric Vehicle to be an IMI Approved Centre.In line with the primary aim announced in Malaysia’s National Automotive Policy (NAP) 2014 to have Malaysia become a regional energy-efficient vehicle (EEV) hub, this initiative will help provide the automotive industry human capital with skills and knowledge relevant to this technology.
A conferring ceremony took place at the college on 9th August 2014 and was attended by YB. Dato’ Seri Idris Bin Jusoh, the Second Minister of Education. This follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) earlier this year between the IMI and the education ministry to enhance the skills of automotive professionals. The partnership heralds the provision of quality training available via community colleges in Malaysia, particularly focusing on the need for skilled technicians to service the growing footprint of electric and hybrid vehicles.
The NAP announced in January this year to transform Malaysia into a regional energy-efficient vehicle (EEV) hub is expected to generate 187,000 additional employment opportunities by 2020. In response, automotive professionals will need to acquire new skills and knowledge relevant to EEV, and IMI’s initiative with the Ministry of Education helps to provide this.
The IMI is a leading automotive body that helps improve professional standards for the retail motor sector. Its qualifications are designed to demonstrate skills and competence in both technical and non-technical disciplines that are fundamental for the development of the industry and the career of automotive personnel. By obtaining approval to offer IMI international qualifications, the college will become one of the top places to gain quality training that has been benchmarked to an international standard; the foundation of a successful career in the automotive industry.
Lauding the college’s collaboration with IMI in line with the government’s direction in establishing Malaysia as a regional EEV hub, Idris said, “It is critical that the automotive industry have a workforce equipped to handle emerging technologies like EEV. By offering the relevant IMI qualifications and accreditations, Kepala Batas Community College is helping to develop the nation’s automotive industry by providing it with future employees who have relevant skillsets and qualifications.”
Founded in 2012, the Kepala Batas Community College provides education training at a certificate level for automotive, architecture, two dimension animation and mechanical manufacturing, as well as offering short term courses in the same areas.
To qualify as an approved centre, the college underwent rigorous approvals to ensure that its procedures, systems and policies met with the IMI’s stringent requirements. The college also had to demonstrate that it has the capability to deliver and assess qualifications to the required standards, as well as be subject to continual monitoring by an External Verifier to ensure the standards are maintained.
“The new emphasis on EEV is crucial as 85 percent of the vehicles produced in Malaysia are expected to be EEVs by 2020. The IMI has been a long time contributor in improving the training standards for the workforce in Malaysia’s automotive sector and giving them international validation,” said Matthew Stuart, Senior Manager of IMI South-East Asia.
“By working with the Malaysian Ministry of Education, we have responded to the NAP 2014 with a clear mission to provide training support across a network of community colleges in Malaysia to enhance the skills of automotive professionals, particularly around EEV training”, Stuart concluded.
