Graduate numbers are increasing every year, which means that educational qualifications may not be enough to help you stand out from the crowd. What does this mean for graduates? Well, it means that soft skills have never been more important.
Cognisant of this growing trend, QIU recently inked a strategic partnership with the Malaysian Institute for Debate and Public Speaking (MIDP) to establish a Centre of Excellence for Soft Skills Education (COESSE).
The COESSE is designed to serve as a beacon of knowledge, fostering the development of essential soft skills among our youth—not only in Perak but throughout the northern states.
Under the new agreement, QIU will also be hosting MIDP-organised activities and events designed to advance soft skills education.
The MIDP was founded in 2010 by a group of internationally recognised home-grown debaters with the goal of mainstreaming the benefits of debating and public speaking across Malaysia. Today, it is recognised as a leading expert on soft skills education by various stakeholders, hosting an average of 20 workshops and competitions at state and national levels annually.
The MoU was signed by QIU Vice-Chancellor Professor Zita Mohd Fahmi and MIDP Chief Executive Officer Nor Emellia Mohd Shariff. Present to witness the signing were Dean of Social Sciences Professor Dr Sivabala Naidu and MIDP Executive, Partnership & Stakeholder Management Tey Kai Yang.
“It has always been a priority at QIU for our students to develop holistically. We are not just imparting academic knowledge, but also equipping our students with the necessary soft skills that are crucial in today’s dynamic world,” said Prof Zita.
“Hence, we have a range of different initiatives to ensure that QIU is a place where students get more than a degree. This partnership aligns perfectly with our vision and mission to provide holistic development of youth.”
