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PENAMPANG: The Ministry of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives (KUSKOP) is inviting students, particularly from the B40 group in Sabah and Sarawak, to pursue higher studies at Universiti Keusahawanan Koperasi Malaysia (UKKM).

Its Minister, Datuk Ewon Benedick said that UKKM, which began operations in March last year, offers diploma to PhD programmes in entrepreneurship and cooperatives, with aound 100 students currently enrolled at the university.

He said that UKKM is currently operating from a temporary campus in Kuala Lumpur and that the Ministry has no plans to expand by opening branches in Sabah or other states at this time. 

“I am requesting a special intake for students from Sabah and Sarawak who were unable to pursue their studies through the UPU application process. They can apply online through UKKM for diploma or undergraduate programmes. 

“I also hope, especially for B40 students or young people across Malaysia, that if there is significant demand in Sabah, Sarawak, or rural areas in the Peninsular, they not only continue their studies but also contribute to developing the cooperatives sector in the country,” he said after officiating the state-level National Cooperatives Day in Sabah Saturday.

Ewon said that UKKM offers five programmes covering the fields of entrepreneurial and cooperative administration, and the university also provides executive degree courses for those who are working and wish to study in these areas.

He added that students who are children of cooperative members can apply for financing from agencies under his ministry, including the Angkatan Koperasi Kebangsaan Malaysia Berhad (Angkasa) and the Cooperative Commission of Malaysia, to further their education at UKKM.

The university, led by the Cooperative Institute of Malaysia, was established to further enhance the knowledge and skills of human capital in cooperatives and ensure the sustainability of the cooperative movement.

Ewon expressed hope that UKKM will be able to transform and improve the landscape of the cooperative movement in Malaysia, which has existed for 102 years, making it more competitive and on par with cooperative movements abroad.

As a catalyst for the development of human capital in cooperatives, UKKM will harness the strengths and skills of Kuskop agencies to strengthen its role in producing competent, professional and authoritative graduates with a cooperative entrepreneurial mindset, he said.