Graduates must arm themselves with a variety of skills and have high competitiveness in addition to having excellent qualifications, said Raja Muda of Perlis Tuanku Syed Faizuddin Putra Jamalullail.

He said the knowledge acquired at university is based on the subjects majored in and at the same time they must also have skills proficiency to be competent graduates.

"In the past, when the world economy was growing, vocations were ready and waiting for graduates. However, today the situation has changed where it's the graduates who must hunt for jobs.

"Today the labour market has also changed and wants a flexible and multi-tasking workforce in the employment sector," he said.

He was speaking at the third session of the 11th convocation of Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP) held at Dewan Ilmu, UniMAP Main Campus, Pauh Putra.

Also present was Raja Puan Muda of Perlis, Tuanku Lailatul Shahreen Akashah Khalil.

Earlier, Tuanku Syed Faizuddin received the instruments of appointment as chancellor of UniMAP for the fourth time effective Dec 13, presented by the chairperson of the UniMAP board of directors, Prof Emeritus Zainal Mohamed.

He presented certificates to 460 graduates in Bachelor of Engineering degree in Materials, Metallurgy, Polymers, Mechatronics, Mechanical and Biomedical Electronics.

- Bernama