IPOH, Sept 5 — The Malaysia Higher Education Plan (RPTM) 2026–2035 is focused on developing students who are not only academically competent but also grounded in strong values and good character.

Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir said the goal of education is not merely to produce knowledgeable and skilled graduates, but to shape better individuals who are capable of navigating a changing world and the demands of the job market.

“The purpose of education is to make us better people. If we study but our character and behaviour worsen, then we have missed the point of education,” he said in a statement issued by Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) today.

He was speaking at the “Sembang Santai Bersama Doc Zam” session, held in conjunction with the Perak Sejahtera Student Carnival 3.0 at UPSI in Tanjong Malim yesterday.

Zambry emphasised that this humanity-centric approach is essential to ensure that academic excellence goes hand in hand with the development of students’ character and personal values.

He said rapid technological change, including advances in AI, large language models and computing technology, requires the higher education system to prepare students for an increasingly evolving job landscape.

“The challenges you face today are far more immense than those we encountered in our time. That is why we must make changes to the higher education system, so that you can equip yourselves to meet them,” he said.

He added that the RPTM, which charts the next decade of higher education, also introduces greater flexibility, enabling working adults to resume their studies and take advantage of the Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL) pathway.

On the Perak Sejahtera Student Carnival 3.0, he said the programme, which brought together 807 participants from institutions of higher learning and Form Six, is an important platform for building networks, confidence and a sense of unity among Perak’s youth.

Zambry said the participants, who came from various districts and ethnicities, embody the spirit of togetherness that must be nurtured further if Perak is to produce a competitive generation of future leaders.

Meanwhile, UPSI vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Md Amin Md Taff, in the same statement, said the programme provides an opportunity for Perak students to share experiences and draw inspiration from figures with extensive experience in leadership and higher education.

“Gatherings like these are important in shaping a younger generation capable of becoming future leaders and, in turn, contributing to the nation’s development,” he said. — Bernama