SULTAN Sallehuddin Sultan Badlishah of Kedah has urged the public to be ready for the fourth industrial revolution as well as prepare the education system to be in line with National Transformation 2050  (TN50).

He said although the era would make life easier with the help of robotics, they must be prepared as their work and lives will be controlled by technology.

For a better understanding of the revolution, Sultan Sallehuddin referred to the article The Fourth Industrial Revolution by German economist Professor Klaus Schwab who said it was a cyber-physical phenomenon.

“The use of robots has spread with artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things which includes various software and tools. 

“The clash between humans and robots led to the Connected Intelligence Era,” he said at the ceremony for the proclamation of the new Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) chancellor and 30th convocation in Sintok today.

As such, Sultan Sallehuddin said large investments in research and development would be made available through collaborations between universities and industry players. 

“The Higher Education Ministry is drawing up policies so the country will be able to compete and become a hub in the Southeast Asian region for the Fourth Industrial Revolution,” he said.

He said the government had taken pro-active steps to ensure the national higher education eco-system was assured, and this was proven in Budget 2018 with an allocation of RM13.89 billion for the ministry.

Earlier, Sultan Sallehuddin was proclaimed UUM’s new chancellor. A total of 5,935 graduates received their scrolls at the five-day ceremony which began today.

Meanwhile Sultanah Nur Zahirah of Terengganu expressed happiness over the development of the Universiti  Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) campus in Bukit Kor, Marang.

The UMT chancellor said with the acquisition of the 242-hectare site for the Bukit Kor campus would not only solve the density problem at the existing campus, but would also enable UMT to plan on developing and implementing new areas of study for the future.

“As Chancellor, I support and encourage all efforts in making this university a renowned public university in the country, as well as a global research institution,” she said.

Sultanah Nur Zahirah also took the opportunity to thank everyone for their efforts in supporting and promoting towards the growth of the university, which celebrated its 15th anniversary this year.

Also present at the convocation ceremony were the Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin, Menteri Besar Ahmad Razif Abdul Rahman, Terengganu state assembly speaker Zubir Embong, UMT pro-chancellor Tan Sri Samsuddin Osman and vice-chancellor Dr Nor Aieni Mokhtar.

A total of 2,717 graduates are scheduled to receive their scrolls at this year’s convocation – 41 doctoral degrees, 163 master’s degrees, 2,384 bachelor’s degrees, and 129 diplomas. – Bernama, November 18, 2017.