FTES students at Curtin Malaysia urged to prepare for Sarawak’s future workforce

Miri, Sarawak – 11 September 2026 – Current Sarawak Free Tertiary Education Scheme (FTES) students at Curtin University Malaysia (Curtin Malaysia) have been told to make the most of their opportunity to pursue higher education while preparing themselves for the demands of Sarawak’s evolving job market.

Speaking at an FTES engagement session attended by more than 400 of the over1,000 FTES students at Curtin Malaysia at the university’s auditorium on September 8, Deputy Minister for Education, Innovation and Talent Development I, Datuk Dr. Haji Annuar Rapaee, said the Sarawak Government is working towards a mechanism that could connect FTES graduates more directly with industry needs.

The initiative is part of Sarawak’s broader ambition to create 500,000 new jobs over the next five to 10 years, with stronger industrial training and workplace exposure expected to play a key role in preparing graduates for these opportunities.

“After you graduate, we are working hard to ensure none of you remain unemployed. We want to monitor all FTES students to ensure they secure good jobs in Sarawak, support their families, and ultimately contribute to the state’s economic growth,” Dr. Annuar said.

He stressed that FTES is about more than increasing access to university education, emphasising that the ultimate goal is to equip students with quality education and the skills needed to secure meaningful employment.

“This opportunity for free tertiary education comes only once in a lifetime. Therefore, please complete your courses within the stipulated timeframe,” he advised.

Dr. Annuar also highlighted the importance of strengthening industrial training programmes to provide students with practical experience and improve their workplace readiness before graduation.

In his opening speech, Curtin Malaysia Pro Vice-Chancellor, President and Chief Executive Professor Vincent Lee said the significant increase in student enrolment at the university reflects growing confidence among families in both FTES and the quality of education offered by Curtin Malaysia.

He described FTES as a transformative initiative that reflects the Sarawak Government’s long-term commitment to investing in its people and expanding access to higher education.

“By removing financial barriers, the scheme empowers more young Sarawakians to pursue their ambitions and build meaningful careers that contribute to the state’s continued growth,” Professor Lee said.

“More importantly, we are seeing many talented youths who previously might not have considered higher education now pursuing their aspirations with confidence,” he added.

The session concluded with an interactive question-and-answer session, during which students engaged directly with Dr. Annuar and gained further insights into FTES, graduate employment prospects and upcoming state manpower initiatives.

The engagement underscored the shared commitment of the Sarawak Government and Curtin Malaysia to ensure that FTES students not only gain access to higher education, but graduate with the knowledge, skills and industry readiness needed to contribute meaningfully to Sarawak’s future.

For more information on Curtin Malaysia, visit curtin.edu.my or follow Curtin Malaysia on Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn or TikTok.

Professor Vincent Lee (left) presenting a souvenir to Datuk Dr Haji Annuar Rapaee.

More than 400 FTES students attending the engagement session with Datuk Dr Haji Annuar Rapaee.

A student putting a question to Datuk Dr Haji Annuar during the Q&A session.