THE WORLD as we know it will not go back to what we are used to. The way we approach personal development and growth has to change to suit the now normal.

While learning in the past was restricted to classrooms, we now explore new avenues of learning, as travel restrictions have made it extremely difficult for students to travel abroad to further their studies.

With the new norm in education today, PKT Logistics Group chief executive and managing director Datuk Dr Michael Tio opined, “Self-development and progress needs to continue despite global pandemic. The only change is our approach to education. Peninsula College is committed to continuous education for all with a strong focus on industry driven courses and affordability.”

All parents know that education is not an expense, but an investment for the future – be it for higher education for adults or children. And although the uncertainty surrounding the pandemic is making it harder financially, education waits for no one and cannot be put on pause.

While it is important to manage cash flow on a tight budget, Peninsula College is committed to help parents by providing affordable and high quality education for all in Malaysia.

Peninsula College, a wholly-owned subsidiary of PKT Logistics Group Sdn Bhd, is a socially responsible institution of higher learning that provides industry-driven teaching with cutting edge campus buildings located within a business environment.

Its activities aim to inspire and enlighten businesses and communities to produce a positive impact upon society.

Affordable quality educationPKT Logistics Group envisions to position Peninsula College as Asean’s first maritime university – and it is in a unique position to do so. But quality education does not have to cost a pretty penny.

For the price you pay in ringgit, you can enjoy the world-class facilities of studying in The Ship Campus that has a Straits-of-Malacca gymnasium, a karaoke room, The Student Residences and also opportunities to work part-time with the Jom! Bekerja Sambil Belajar (JBSB) programme.

“Since the movement control order, many of the classes have moved online. That said, inquiries have been picking up for enrolment for the January 2021 intake. Parents are now stabilising and managed to secure secondary income to help fund their child’s education. We foresee higher student enrolment for the January 2021 intake as compared to the previous intakes, owing to possible pent-up demand, ” added Peninsula Higher Education Group president Prof Ian Pashby.

Although classes have moved online, in line with physical distancing and other new norms, having a campus such as The Ship Campus is still important, as students will be able to closely collaborate with industry partners and do part-time work while studying to gain a headstart in their careers.

Moreover, through the JBSB programme, students studying at the campus will be assigned to various departments in the group, ranging from warehouse, finance, human resource and administration.

In line with Peninsula College’s motto – Your Employability: Our Priority – the programme will enable students to obtain hands-on practical industry experience that helps bridge the gap between theory and practice while earning a side income in the process.

This way, students who take part can gain industry relevant skills, while at the same time developing the necessary soft skills to set them apart as the graduate of choice among future employers.

All around support

Aside from being an affordable option, Peninsula College also offers scholarships for students with multiple financing options for them to suit their needs.

When asked about the employment opportunities for those pursuing a logistics course, Tio said that the demand for new hires has been growing in the industry.

“People now realise the importance of logistics as more people are taking up logistics as a job. From food deliveries to haulage to last mile deliveries, logisticians are present at every point of the supply chain.

“The focus is now towards inbound as opposed to outbound in the past and the need for skilled logisticians to manage the local supply chain has grown exponentially, ” Tio explained.

Its campus-in-industry model, where the campus is located inside an industrial development, gives students access to the latest business and corporate trends and also for industry players to work closely with academia in terms of knowledge and talent transfer.

This, in addition to its ongoing collaboration with public universities and polytechnics such as Politeknik Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah, Politeknik Seberang Perai and Universiti Utara Malaysia for knowledge sharing, leads to the creation of futureproof yet industry-relevant courses.

Pashby added, “We will also be offering courses in two new fields of studies – computer science and e-business technology – that will help gear students towards exploring the future e-commerce and data driven economy.”

Continuous education is part of improving one’s life despite the current circumstances, so when we learn to grow, we can overcome any obstacle, which in turn opens up opportunities in our professional and personal development.