Deputy higher education minister Mustapha Sakmud says Malaysians must continuously upgrade their skills to stay relevant in a fast-evolving job market.
00:00Every year, thousands of Malaysians enter the workforce with valuable skills, but without the formal qualifications many employers demand.
00:09More than half a million SPM graduates chose not to pursue higher education between 2020 and 2023, according to data from the Higher Education Ministry.
00:19This gap leaves a workforce rich in experience but lacking formal credentials, at risk of being left behind as industries evolve.
00:30Deputy Higher Education Minister Mustafa Sakmut says upskilling is no longer optional and that the accreditation of prior experiential learning helps address the shortage of skilled workers.
00:42Introduced by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency, APPEL offers working adults formal academic recognition for knowledge and skills gained through work and life experience.
00:51Instead of starting over, candidates can turn their experiences into opportunities to enter diploma, degree or postgraduate programs, or even earn credits or full qualifications through assessment.
01:05Mustafa says APPEL gives a second chance to those once left behind by the education system, helping them move forward in their careers, earn better incomes and grow personally.
01:15For veteran singer Nashruddin Ilyas, better known as Datuk Nash, APPEL became a way to formalize decades of experience in the arts and appreciate the technical and theoretical depth behind performance.
01:29He graduated with a master's degree in performance studies from University Pendidikan Sultan Idris in November last year under one of APPEL's pathways.
01:37Nashruddin hopes more Malaysians will see similar opportunities and view it as an achievement and recognition for their lifelong learning.
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