ACQUIRE GENERIC SKILLS AS WELL, DPM ADVISES STUDENTS

PUTRAJAYA, Aug 6 (Bernama) -- Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin Friday
advised students to equip themselves with generic skills besides acquiring
professional expertise.

He said generic skills would enable them to resolve problems or come up with
something beneficial through creativity and innovation, which were most
necessary in a country heading towards a high-income economy.

"Students should not restrict themselves to acquiring knowledge only during
lectures but must adopt the more creative approach of gaining knowledge from
various sources.

"This includes participation in student activism which will expose them to
various experiences, skills and knowledge that cannot be gained during lectures.

"Leadership and organisational management skills, for example, can be acquired
and sharpened through participation in associations or clubs at institutions of
higher learning," said Muhyiddin, who is also Education Minister, when opening a
meeting of the National Students Consultative Council (MPPK) at the Putrajaya
International Convention Centre (PICC), here.

Muhyiddin said students should be skillful enough to engage in arguments and
come up with useful opinions or suggestions.

They could build on these vital skills through their participation in
discussions or public discourses in universities, he said.

"In this way, the student community in our country can not only build on its
leadership talent but also sharpen its thinking prowess in an objective and
rational manner to handle issues," he said.

These skills would also safeguard students from falling prey to perceptions or
emotions which could obscure their view of certain issues, he said.

Muhyiddin said he believed that the capacity to think objectively and the
readiness to listen to opposing views would enable students to show respect for
differing opinions, accept good views and refrain from being dragged into
pointless polemics.


"God willing, by encouraging health discussion and exchange of views, our
students can be more open in handling various current issues.

"I believe that as educated people with access to various sources of knowledge
and information, our students will be able to analyse issues of interest to the
nation in a just and objective manner," he said.

Muhyiddin said he hoped that students in both public and private
institutions of higher learning, whom he described as the nation's important assets,
could help the government by making meaningful contributions to national
development.
-- BERNAMA