TASEK GELUGOR: All Mara-linked vocational institutions, including Institut Kemahiran Mara (IKM), Kolej Kemahiran Tinggi Mara (KKTM), and the Mara Japanese Industrial Institute (MJII), will now be known under a single brand — TVET Mara — with immediate effect.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the rebranding exercise involved 25 institutions nationwide and is aimed at strengthening the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) ecosystem while expanding access to skills-based education.

“With this rebranding, all IKM, KKTM and MJII will be known as TVET Mara, although they will continue to operate at different levels within the skills certification framework,” he said at the launching of the rebranding at IKM Seberang Prai Utara here today.

Elaborating, Zahid said GiatMara would continue operating as usual, offering Malaysian Skills Certificates (SKM) Levels One to Three, while Levels Four and Five would be offered under TVET Mara.

He said graduates might then either enter the workforce with recognised professional qualifications or continue their studies at Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL), which offers programmes up to doctoral level.

“The key principle here is inclusivity. Even those without SPM, or without credit passes, are allowed to improve their careers through TVET.

“The entry into TVET Mara is open to a wide pool of candidates, including GiatMara trainees, SPM school-leavers and graduates of vocational colleges under the Education Ministry.

“This is not a shortcut. It is a structured educational pathway supported by a modern technical ecosystem. It enhances employability because these institutions have strong industry linkages, formalised through memoranda of agreement with industry players,” he added.

Zahid said Mara institutions currently record an overall employability rate of 98.7 per cent, with IKM achieving 100 per cent employability.

“With this rebranding, we aim not only to sustain the 100 per cent employability rate, but to create more opportunities for graduates to pursue higher levels of education and specialised skills,” he said.

He said the initiative also supported the government’s target of producing 60,000 engineers, particularly in the electrical and electronics (E&E) sector, to meet industry demand.

“This target is achievable if we are committed, alongside public and private higher education institutions offering professional and academic programmes,” he said.

Asked about curriculum development, Zahid said existing syllabi and training modules would be enhanced to support the production of high-skilled, high-value TVET graduates.

“We are upgrading what is already in place to ensure it remains relevant to future industry needs,” he stressed.

Earlier in his speech, Zahid said Malaysia was pushing forward with a high-skill, technology-driven approach to TVET, positioning it as a strategic national priority rather than an alternative education pathway.

He said TVET was key to transforming mindsets, not just among students, but also parents, shifting the focus from conventional academic pathways to technical education, and creating opportunities for social mobility, especially in rural areas.

Mara currently operates the largest network of TVET institutions in the country, contributing significantly to workforce development and narrowing the skills and income gap between urban and rural communities.

“Mara is a ‘game changer’ in national TVET development. Graduates from the institution have already begun earning high incomes and contributing to local entrepreneurship.

“National enrolment in TVET has jumped from around 120,000 to 439,000 students, reflecting growing public confidence in technical education,” he said.

Zahid also underscored the role of TVET in creating not only skilled professionals but also “techno-entrepreneurs” who could generate employment and foster wealth among Malaysia’s middle- and lower-income groups.

“The number of TVET-trained millionaires has risen from 10 to 15 in just one year,” he said.

Source: https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2026/01/1365648/update-zahid-all-25-mara-vocational-institutes-rebranded-tvet-mara