USM, PENANG, 21 February 2017 – Recognising the importance of providing counselling on basic entrepreneurial skills in detail and for practical use to the younger generation, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) Centre for Co-Curricular Programme, under the Entrepreneurship Programme, held a basic course on entrepreneurship for Company Managers, involving 273 students from 39 schools in Penang recently.

Speaking at the programme, the Assistant Manager of Penang Development Corporation (PDC), Zahida Mohd Idriss said, through a programme created in collaboration with the Penang State Department of Education (JPN), students would have the opportunity to apply the basic entrepreneurship knowledge that is learned soon after they have graduated.

"After the Sijil Persekolahan Malaysia (SPM) examinations, if students are not offered study programmes at higher education institutions (IPT) or do not get jobs, they can use the knowledge in entrepreneurship that is learned to run their own business," said Zahida.

Siti Noor Aida Md Yusoff, a Form 5 student from Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Tunku Puan Habsah who attended this programme said, from the knowledge obtained, she could now find ways to manage a company and become a successful entrepreneur.

"I feel very happy to participate in this programme because the knowledge provided by the organisers has inspired me to become a successful entrepreneur in the future," said Aida.

Another Form 5 student from Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Tunku Abdul Rahman, Tan Chun Quan also said that, the knowledge he has learned in the programme will be useful in helping him to manage his father’s furniture company.

Text: Evelyn Esu Dass (intern, School of Communication, USM)