Penang, 21 June, 2012 - The Malaysia Centre for Tourism & Hospitality Education (MyCenTHE) has launched its first cluster in the northern region, beefing up efforts to train more skilled personnel for the industry.

Headed by KDU College Penang, the cluster will offer two-year work-based learning (WBL) diploma programmes that combine solid theoretical grounding with extensive workplace exposure.

The Penang cluster is MyCenTHE's third successful cluster launch – following prior launches in Sarawak and Kuala Lumpur – and further launches will take place in Sabah, Johor and Terengganu.

The cluster was launched by Deputy Higher Education Minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah, who said that the cluster would go far in meeting the needs of the tourism industry that is expected to grow threefold by 2020.

"Based on current statistics from the Tourism Ministry, we are looking at 36mil tourist arrivals and RM168bil in tourist receipts by 2020," Saifuddin said in a speech that he read on behalf of Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin.

"The forecast is encouraging but it presents a human capital challenge to Malaysia. To meet the targeted growth trajectory, we need to bolster national capacity to generate 50,000 skilled graduates each year by 2020."

Led by UCSI University, MyCenTHE functions as the national centre to coordinate WBL programmes in tourism and hospitality, ensuring the harmonisation of curriculum delivery nationwide.

Designed to give graduates a head start in the industry, MyCenTHE's two-year diploma courses involve industrial training – of up to 11 months – at hotels and resorts managed by industrial partners, allowing students to earn and learn at the same time.

Strong industrial support has been obtained thus far and the Eastern & Oriental Hotel has signed up as a five-star partner in the Penang cluster.

Associate Professor Dr. Wong Kong Yew of UCSI University, the Chairman of MyCenTHE, said that strong partnership between the public and private sectors will bring forth a dynamic and cohesive set of programmes, ranging from skill training diplomas to academic degrees.

This will enable graduates to be part of the highest quality training available, he said, thus opening doors to abounding and progressive opportunities. 

"With the government's support, MyCenTHE will open doors for many secondary leavers and those in the hospitality and tourism sector to achieve their dreams of a successful career in this industry, as it will not only provide hospitality-based education, but also a platform to launch their career," said Dr. Chong Beng Keok, Principal of KDU College Penang.

Saifuddin also praised MyCenTHE for bringing Malaysia's premier hospitality schools together to support the national agenda.

"To enhance accessibility to the programme, all private providers involved with MyCenTHE have agreed to reduce their course fees by 25% to 30%," he said.

"The National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) will also provide students with loans that amount to 80% of the course fee inclusive of work allowances."

He added that the pioneer cluster of the programme based in Sarawak was doing well with over 200 students enrolled. 

Launched under the Economic Transformation Programme in 2011, MyCenTHE is an initiative that focuses on the development of academically qualified and industry ready graduates from its tourism and hospitality programmes.