PUTRAJAYA, Jan 19 —Employability of Community College graduates showed an upward trend each year to reach 97.1 percent last year compared with 82.4 percent in 2012, said Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh.

The percentage of community college graduates who are self-employed (entrepreneurs) also showed an increase from 3.8 per cent in 2011 to 8.2 percent last year, he said.

“Instilling entrepreneurial values in students not only makes them successful in the working environment but gives rise to graduates who create jobs and wealth,” he said when launching the 2016 Young Entrepreneurs’ Programme SME Bank’s 90-Days Business Challenge here, today.

On the occasion, Idris also presented the 2015 Young Entrepreneurs’ Programme SME Bank’s 90-Days Business Challenge winner’s prize to the Paya Besar Community College, Pahang, which runs a printing business.

The College took home RM6,000 plus business financing and training by SME Banks, after beating 19 other Community Colleges nationwide.

The programme is a collaboration between SME Banks and the Community College Education Department that focuses on entrepreneurial incubation for students at community colleges who show a tendency to pursue entrepreneurship as a career option.

The inception of the first programme in 2015 to produce young entrepreneurs among Community College students, received 52 entries from 91 Community Colleges nationwide. — Bernama