NIBONG TEBAL, 20 May 2026 – Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) continues to strengthen its graduate employability agenda through the organisation of the Engineering Career Expo 2026 held at the Main Hall, Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Engineering Campus, here today.

USM Deputy Vice-Chancellor Industry and Community Network, Professor Dr. Azlan Amran, representing the Vice-Chancellor in his speech, said the participation of more than 60 companies and industry organisations in the expo reflected the industry’s continued confidence in the quality and employability of USM graduates.

“The encouraging level of participation is a highly commendable achievement and demonstrates the strength of the strategic collaboration between the university and industry,” he said.

The Engineering Career Expo 2026 was organised as a key platform connecting engineering students with industry through exposure to career opportunities, industrial training placements, and professional networking sessions with employers.

The programme involved participation from various industry companies and start-ups, providing direct access to thousands of engineering students from diverse fields including aerospace, civil, electrical, and electronic, mechanical, chemical, materials and mineral resources engineering.

Further commenting on the programme, Azlan said the expo had been carefully designed with various early-stage initiatives to prepare students, including the enhancement of soft skills and interview training, followed by engagement sessions with industry partners throughout the event.

He said the comprehensive approach was important to ensure graduates not only excel academically but are also well-prepared to meet the real demands of today’s rapidly evolving job market driven by technological advancement, artificial intelligence (AI), and global digitalisation.

“Today’s graduates must possess the ability to adapt, think critically, and continuously enhance their competencies throughout their lives,” he added.

He also reaffirmed USM’s commitment to producing graduates with strong academic and technical foundations, as well as leadership qualities, professional maturity, and effective communication and collaboration skills.

According to him, the HEBAT value-based education approach, which stands for Holistic, Entrepreneurial, Balanced, Articulate, and Thinking, serves as a key foundation in shaping graduates who are relevant and competitive.

At the same time, he expressed appreciation for the continued support of industry partners who play an important role in developing national talent in a more responsive and high-impact manner.

At the end of his speech, he expressed hope that the expo would be fully utilised by industry players to identify and attract quality talents, particularly among USM final-year students who will soon complete their studies.

Also present were the Director of the Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Engineering Campus, USM, Professor Ir. Dr. Mariatti Jaafar @ Mustapha; President and Chief Executive Officer of Energize Incorporated, Taro Ozaki; and Director of the Student Development Centre, BHEPA, USM, Professor Dr. Azizah Omar.

Text: Siti Faizah Abd Halim/Photo: Muhammad Taufik Abdul Rahman, Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Engineering Campus, USM